A DISTRAUGHT family has bravely spoken out to urge young people against suicide after suffering three tragedies in less than a year.
The parents of Ardoyne woman Colleen Lagan (28) attended a public suicide awareness meeting on Wednesday just 24 hours after burying their daughter, who took her own life on Christmas Day.
Her death came within 10 months of the loss of two of her cousins to suicide.
The north Belfast community was also plunged into further shock when it emerged on Wednesday that one of Colleen's friends took her own life overnight.
The 24-year-old, also from Ardoyne, was among the crowds of mourners who attended her funeral on Tuesday at Holy Cross Church.
Around 100 people gathered at the parish centre on Wednesday afternoon for an outreach event organised in response to recent tragedies.
Colleen's cousin Eamon Sloan (25), a chef from Ardoyne and father of a three-year-old boy, took his own life at the end of February this year.
And in April another cousin, 20-year-old Tiarnan Bassett from south Belfast, who had a two-year-old son, also died by suicide.
Bravely speaking in front of the crowd, Colleen's parents Kate and Gerard tearfully expressed their "total devastation".
Kate (51) told The Irish News: "We lost our nephew in February. He was like a brother to her, and she saw the grief and devastation that was left behind.
"We never thought this was going to happen."
Mr Sloan's mother Brigid has also opened up about the loss experienced by her family circle due to suicide, describing it as "hell on earth".
