Male Travellers' lives cut short by 15 years

Claire Murphy ·

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Singer Niall Breslin gets his picture taken with brothers John (left) and Joseph Donoghue at the launch of a Pavee Point report on male Traveller health. Photo: Collins

Traveller men live an average of 15 years fewer than those in the settled community, new research has discovered.

Traveller rights organisation Pavee Point has presented a position paper on the health of men in the community.

The research has found that Traveller men have a suicide rate that is seven times higher than settled men.

"Our lives are cut shorter simply because we are Traveller men," said Patrick Reilly, men's health worker.

Speaking at the event Niall Breslin said that the statistics on Traveller men's health were "horrific". Singer Christy Moore also attended. "Asking for help takes great courage," he said.

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Singer Niall Breslin gets his picture taken with brothers John (left) and Joseph Donoghue at the launch of a Pavee Point report on male Traveller health. Photo: Collins