Five suicides in six-mile radius

Five people have taken their lives within a six-mile radius of Dungannon, County Tyrone over the last month, it has been revealed.

None of the deaths were linked. News of the deaths followed calls for a suicide prevention director to be appointed in Northern Ireland.

On average, about 195 people take their lives in NI each year.

About 4,500 people are hospitalised for attempting suicide or self harming, the assembly was told on Monday.

The assembly's health committee said closer co-operation within and across a range of government departments would help to prevent suicide and self-harm.