Steven's family in appeal for end to scourge of suicide

A CLOSE relation of Steven Fahy – the young man who died tragically in Skibbereen last week – has written of how his death, the second such tragedy for the family in just over two months, has affected all those who knew him.

Former Skibbereen mayor Frank Fahy, a grand uncle of Steven’s, has penned a letter to this paper, at the request of Steven’s father Billy, to describe the ‘extraordinarily likable and outgoing’ 21-year-old, who went missing the day before his body was found.

‘In the past week, the Fahy family of Skibbereen suffered another devastating loss with the second death by suicide in the space of a little over eight weeks,’ writes Frank. 

‘Steven Fahy (21) died at his own hand in the early hours of Tuesday 28th June,’ he says in the letter, which is published in full in this paper, this week.

Frank explains how his grand nephew was ‘endowed with many gifts of good character, good humour, respect for his peers and older, good communication skills and a sharp mind that readily understood technology and who shared his abilities with his friends, but above all, a love of his family and all associated with him.’

He added that if Steven had a weakness, then it was his sensitivity to the problems of others, ‘which he took to heart as his own and which often left him in a state of depression’. Mr Fahy noted the huge numbers at the funeral mass last Sunday, and the many people who expressed condolences with his family.

‘Nothing that could be said here could adequately express the family’s deep appreciation for the love and concern shown to them in every way by all, over these heartbreaking days,’ he added.

Mr Fahy says the family hope is that this display of love and concern shown by the public will help those that ever contemplate suicide and make them see that they are not alone, and show them that their problems are never insurmountable. Appealing for an end to the scourge of suicide, Frank Fahy writes: ‘There are a large number of people and organisations who are ready and so willing to help them and spare their families the devastation and worry and unjustified feelings of guilt that take over their lives with the loss of a loved one in this tragic way.’

Concluding his letter, he says the family now pleads that Steven’s death will be the end, rather than a continuation, of this loss of beautiful lives, and family heartache, into the future.