Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Social media ‘suicide note’ call saves life
POLICE have praised a Good Samaritan whose concern over a Snapchat “suicide note” saved a life.
Craigavon PSNI officers arrived just in time to prevent a personal tragedy over the weekend.
But they voiced concern at the fact only one person called 999 after seeing the social media post.
A spokesman said: “We received a phone call from someone saying they’d seen a concerning message on social media and due to that call, a life was saved.
“The worrying thing is we only got one call.
“We need, as a society, to start taking mental health and indeed all matters that require urgent attention more seriously. Your delay could cost a life.” BELFAST City Council is preparing to file an injunction against Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure over a bonfire, it has emerged.
Councillors held two meetings with Dfi’s permanent secretary Peter May last night about the scale of the structure at Bloomfield Walkway in East Belfast.
The meetings involving BCC’S Strategic Policy and Resources committee followed similar unsuccessful discussions about removing some material from the pyre.
However, yesterday the extra material remained on the Bloomfield bonfire, which is one of four East Belfast structures issued with injunctions last year.
The site where the bonfire is situated is primarily owned by DFI, however, the council does have infrastructure nearby including a play park.
Last night talks appeared to break down with one councillor saying “the discussions were far from a meeting of minds, to put it lightly”.
The committee said: “Despite efforts by a range of agencies, the bonfire has been measured as not being at a safe height acceptable to be within the guidelines of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
“We would make a final plea to the bonfire builders to remove the surplus material so as to reduce the threat to property.”
Alliance councillor Emmet Mcdonough-brown said his party was “extremely disappointed” at Dfi’s take on the issue and is concerned about damage not only to resident’s and council property, but the potential risk to life.