[article] One Dart suicide a month

[Mark Gleeson]

Originally Posted by Irish Times

One Dart suicide a month, inquest told?Ali Bracken

An Iarnród Éireann train driver has told an inquest that three people on different occasions have died when they jumped in front of his train. A spokesman for the company said about one person per month takes their own life in this way.

The inquest yesterday was on a 33-year-old man who was hit by the Dart between Connolly and Tara Street stations on April 25th last year. There was evidence that indicated his intentions in a telephone call to his sister.

However, the jury returned an open verdict as the deceased's ability to make decisions had been impaired by the drugs and alcohol he had consumed. A postmortem found he had consumed cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol on the morning he was hit by the train.
A workmate said he had complained he was having problems sleeping and eating over the past three weeks. He added that his friend was prone to bouts of depression.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he was "not avoiding the question of suicide but the toxicology screen raises a question in relation to intention".

The man had been on his way home in the early hours of the morning from a work party when he ventured down to the train tracks.
Speaking outside the Coroner's Court, train driver Derek Fox said people jumping in front of trains is a problem for drivers.

A spokesman for Iarnród Éireann said it was now part of company training to teach drivers how to deal with this situation if it occurs.
"We now have pre-incident training for all our drivers in relation to this. It teaches them how to respond and how to deal with what has happened afterwards. A significant number of our drivers have been involved in such instances. It is always extremely unfortunate for the drivers concerned because they are powerless."

All drivers are offered counselling in the aftermath of such an incident.

"Iarnród Éireann works with trade unions to provide counselling. This is not something people should have to expect to deal with in the workplace . . . Drivers deal with it differently. Some come back to work quickly, others need more time. On a rare occasion, someone decides not to return as a train driver and we then try and find them an alternative role," he said.

The spokesman added that for a driver to be involved in three incidents was "exceptional".

As well as one suicide per month, many train drivers have to deal with numerous attempted suicides that leave people with serious injuries, he explained.

© The Irish Times 2006
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