Family loses 4 children through suicide in 6 years

It might sound unbelievable, but a Northern Irish family is grieving the unfortunate loss of their three sons and a nephew, all of whom committed suicide within 6 years.

Their sorrows were aggravated by the death of 31-year-old Stephen Ferrinh who sadly parted a perpetual company with his family at the weekend after returning home from going missing.

The sad incidents give some credence to figures from the Office of National Statistics which indicated that the country has the highest-ranking suicide rate in the UK.

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Per official statistics reported by the Dailymail, there were 19.3 deaths per 100,000 of the population in 2015, when data for Northern Ireland was last published.

The figure is significantly higher than those relating to England, Scotland or Wales.

The Dailymail reports that, Mr Ferrin's death came after his brothers Niall, 19, and Kieran, 24, both took their own lives — as well as their cousin, Christopher, who was 19.

The brothers have left behind their heartbroken parents and two sisters.

Patricia and Eddie, mother and father respectively of the deceased told the Belfast Telegraph that “Stephen is a father, a brother and a son who is cherished and deeply loved and he will be sadly missed by all his friends and family,”

“He was a handsome young man, who was very witty, and who had lots and lots of friends,' the four brothers.”

“His death is devastating to us, to his friends and to the whole community and we would like to bury him with the dignity and the respect he deserves.”

Mr Ferrin was reported missing last week but was found after an appeal for help finding him.

He was subsequently found dead at his home on Saturday, just days after returning.

He is also thought to have lost five friends to suicide.

His brother Kieran took his own life five months after reportedly being beaten unconscious in a vicious sectarian assault in 2014.

That tragedy took place three years after their brother Niall committed suicide, too. He was also reported to have been the victim of a sectarian attack when he was only 15.

Their cousin, Christopher, took his own life in 2010 only days after reportedly breaking down and waiting for a whole day to see a mental health team.

Phillip McTaggert, a family friend, told Belfast Live: 'He had been going training, had been doing very well at that.

“All of a sudden I think he went into a downward spiral and he left the training and ended up leaving his job.

“These are all classic signs that a young man is feeling down and maybe some things had just got on top of him.”

He said Mr Ferrin's death highlights the urgent need for a dedicated mental health centre in the area he lived.

Stephen's funeral is expected to help later this week.

Friends are also raising funds to support the grieving Ferrin family.

Family loses 4 children through suicide in 6 years

It might sound unbelievable, but a Northern Irish family is grieving the unfortunate loss of their three sons and a nephew, all of whom committed suicide within 6 years.

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