Great darkness - Cobh tragedy

An appalling tragedy has decimated yet another family, leaving the people of Cobh in a state of shock and underlining how important it is for society to confront the reality of mental health illness in a sympathetic and realistic manner.

The terrible calamity that has beset the Greaney family again highlights the crying need for greater funding for a largely hidden aspect of the health service that usually comes to public notice in times of such heartbreaking tragedy.

It is an illness which, despite becoming less of a stigma in recent years, continues to be swept under the carpet. Thankfully, the focus on such issues as depression has brought home to most people that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of.

The whole country will respond to the call by Bishop William Crean of Cloyne for people to pray for those affected, particularly the daughter who remains in a critical condition in hospital and also for her severely traumatised teenage sister. A great darkness has, as the bishop said, fallen on the community of Cobh.