A Dublin woman suffering from depression is believed to have hired two people from the United States to assist her to commit suicide, The Irish Times has learned.
The woman, who was separated and in her 40s, is understood to have employed the services of an American organisation which offers help to perform suicide.
She is believed to have met the two at Dublin Airport last week and that subsequently they assisted her to kill herself at her apartment in Donnybrook.
Gardaí, who believe this is the first instance of assisted suicide in this jurisdiction, are investigating what happened.
It is believed the woman paid the two individuals around €6,500. Gardaí also believe the two have already left the State.
A person close to the woman said she had not been suffering from any terminal physical illness but had "extremely serious depression". She was also said to have undergone numerous courses of treatment, without success, over several years. In addition, she was said to have indicated to others her intention to take her own life. "She was quite rational about it. She felt it was the only rational choice," said one source.
The woman had no children, and in recent months had been forced to give up her job because of her depression.
The Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, carried out a post-mortem on the woman's body at the weekend. Blood samples have been taken for examination and a toxicology report, which would identify the cause of death, is expected to be available within a number of weeks.
E-mail transmissions between the woman and a contact in the US in which details of the arrangement were discussed have been recovered. Gardaí are also said to be examining security tapes at Dublin Airport in the hope of finding film of the individuals meeting the woman.
The woman's apartment has already been examined by the Garda Technical Bureau. Detectives have been encouraged by the discovery of a number of fingerprints.
It is understood that gardaí are seeking directions on the case from the Director of Public Prosecutions. They are also examining the possibility of seeking the extradition of the offenders from the US under a 1983 extradition treaty. They have yet to confirm their identities. It is understood the woman made contact with the two through a confidential Internet "chat-room".
Numerous organisations in the US offer services to persons considering assisted suicide. However, none openly advertise the type of service performed in this case.
Assisted suicide is legal in just two EU states, Belgium and the Netherlands, and in only one state in the US, Oregon.
Under Irish law, anyone who "aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another" is liable upon conviction to be jailed for up to 14 years.
