Suicide rates in Northern Ireland have doubled since the Troubles ended

catholicabusesurvivorsni---------------and many of them as a direct result of child sex abuse comitted by the roman catholic church , with a goverment who've done nothing whatsoever for these victims , especially the thousands who were reared in the goverment paid rcc catholic childrens homes.

Maybe they regretted the actions they took when they had time to sit and ponder the folly of their ways. Ex servicemen sometimes feel they were tricked into defending the indefensible and change their view of what it was they were doing. And to be Fair some past IRA operatives have the same dilemmas.

When soldiers retire from the army, they usually have time to plan for it, the army encourage them to attend pre-retirement orientation and this helps them prepare for life in civvy street. Paramiliteries, unfortunately face many of the same hurdles except they don't have the same support structures that soldiers have. t must be a challenge trying to change your mindset from one of intelligence gathering, following targets on a daily, weekly , monthly basis, updating records all done covertly or even planning and carrying out murderss and then to suddenly stop and forgetabout everything you've been trained to do. I am not sure what mechanisms the two govts have put in place to deal with this phenomena and I would lik to know if there is any correlations between those committing suicide and are they ex paramiliteries or have they been involved in supporting the campaigns in some way. A relative of mine had been in the RUC for 22 years and a religious man. He retired around the same time that the PSNI was formed he hung himself in his garage and none of us know why. There is a high rate of suicides among soldiers who have left the army and the prisons have a very high rate of ex soldiers as inmates, there must be a link with post conflict

I don't think Murph46 misread the article Sean. I think he was just responding to my flippant remark. I would never, not in a million years, want to go back to the Troubles!

Here in Provence, the olive thrives in the harsh excesses of heat cold and bad ground.

Typically Murph46 misreads the article.

So! Go back to the Troubles?

Before Mr. Spain writes anymore columns he should read his own newspaper articles . Remember that opinion thing Mr. Spain .

That is the idea.

Having a war to fight obviously gives one something to live for!