TD tells of family’s pain at suicide
FIANNA Fáil TD Lisa Chambers became emotional in the Dáil yesterday as she spoke about the suicide of a family friend last year due to mental health issues.
Ben Garrett, an Army private whose body was not found for more than two weeks after his death, was just 21 when he died.
Ms Chambers said he had been a close friend of her brother and sister. She struggled to continue as she described how difficult it was for them to aid the search for his body.
The 30-year-old TD said of the searchers: ‘They were walking along the edge of the River Corrib in Galway searching for his belongings and searching for Ben. I recall the impact that had on those younger people, my brother and sister in particular.
‘I also recall that Ben’s mother took them all aside and said they must remember the impact that this has on families, they must tell others about the difficulties they are having and they must for God’s sake stay away from drugs and alcohol.’
The Mayo TD was taking part in a debate on the Mental Health (Amendment) (No.2) – a Bill introduced by Fianna Fáil TD James Browne to strengthen the rights of inpatients to make decisions about their own mental health treatment.
Ms Chambers, who is her party’s spokeswoman for defence, said Private Garrett had shown no signs of suffering any mental health issues.
She said: ‘Ben gave the impression of confidence, happiness and things going very well. It is clear that underneath he was in a lot of trouble. If only we had taken more time to talk about it. If only there was not such stigma attached and it was more okay to talk about mental health.’
Independent TD Catherine Connolly, a former psychologist, said she knew her fellow TDs were ‘speaking with heartfelt emotion’, but added that government after government had let the people of Ireland down when it comes to mental health. She said: ‘I cannot help feeling a certain frustration because the time for talking – not for young people, but for those in Government – is over.’
Private Garrett was reported missing on March 31 last year. He was last seen in Galway city at around 1.45am after a night out with friends. His body was found close to the docks in Galway on April 16.