Families to unite over river deaths

By Fiona Magennis, Drogheda Independent - Friday March 5th 2004

DROGHEDA families who have lost loved ones after they entered the River Boyne have this week vowed to come together and address the growing suicide crisis in Drogheda.

The decision comes after the Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS) revealed that they had to rescue the same man from the river on nine different occasions.

Drogheda man John McGahey, who lost his son Niall to the river, said that while the issue was just being talked about at this stage he was hopeful families could come together to provide help and support, not just for families who had lost loved ones but for anyone who felt they needed assistance, or was depressed or suicidal.

‘There are other organisations out there who provide support but they are not advertised enough, there is not enough awareness of the problem out there and I think something should be done about that.’

In the week in which the first sod was turned on the BFRRS’s new boathouse, Mr McGahey said one possibility would be a helpline which could be run in conjunction with the boathouse.

Admitting that the problem in Drogheda is escalating, Michael Hodgins of the BFRRS said one man had been rescued from the river nine times and added: ‘We have often taken a person out once only to have to take them out again at a later date.

‘I had one guy who managed to drag himself out of the river and came here to my house at 4am in the morning because he just needed someone to talk to.

‘We have taken people out of the river who have entered the river again because they haven’t got the help they obviously needed.’

Agreeing, Mr McGahey said that anything which could be done to help the problem was worth doing. ‘If it saves one person then it is worth it. The more people you have behind it and the more awareness you create the better. Over the years suicide has become such a taboo subject, it has been swept under the carpet but that needs to change,’ he said.

‘There are a lot of factors involved in why someone would decide to take their own life, but raising awareness out there that help is available if it is needed would be a big help.’

Mr Hodgins went on to say that in the last 10 years there has been a definite trend emerging with the majority of those rescued or taken from the river young men aged between 19 and 27.

In the past two years, the BFRRS have rescued 20 people from the Boyne while 13 more were not so fortunate and lost their lives in the river.

Praising the work done by the BFRRS, and the Drogheda River and Sea Rescue, Mr McGahey said that it was their hard work which kept his family going during the dark six weeks between the time when Niall went missing and when his body was finally found on Christmas Day.

‘The work they do is fantastic and it is comforting to know that there is people out there looking. It’s not an easy job and I am absolutely delighted the BFRRS are getting the boathouse.’

© Drogheda Independent