Colin Murphy: Suicide is decimating Travellers

The rate of suicide among Traveller men is seven times higher than that of the general population

‘Our people are dying in front of our eyes,” said Brigid Quilligan of the Irish Traveller Movement, at a small but angry protest in front of Leinster House last Wednesday. The Carrickmines fire tragedy may have been the catalyst for the protest, but Quilligan was referring to something more insidious. “Suicide is eating up Traveller families,” she said.

More than one in ten Traveller deaths are from suicide. The rate of suicide among ...