Bernard Allen
Question:212 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the numbers of incidents of suicide and para-suicide in the Department of Defence in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and to date in 2001. [26522/01]
Written Answers. - Suicide Incidents.
The military authorities advise that it is not possible to identify the precise number of incidents of suicide relating to persons who are serving members of the Defence Forces. This arises from the fact that inquest verdicts are not forwarded to the military authorities as a matter of routine administration. In other words, it would be necessary to review the inquest verdicts of every case of the death of a member of the Defence Forces, where an inquest was applicable, in order to ascertain this information.
The term "para-suicide" encompasses a very wide range of self-harmful behaviour and acts. No specific database which can be studied to ascertain with accuracy the incidences of para-suicide within the Defence Forces.