Former president of Ireland Mary McAleese has described the findings of a new report which reveals high rates of suicide and self-harm among gay teens as “horrific”. While Ireland revealed itself to be a country committed to equal rights in last year’s same-sex marriage referendum, she said it was clear that the “long-standing architecture of homophobia” will take years to dismantle.

The largest study to date of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Ireland shows gay teens experience elevated levels of suicidal behaviour and depression.

Speaking at the launch of the of the report, she said: “This scholarly report is as essential and revealing as it is horrifying. The ongoing damage is undeniable. That it involves so many young people is tragic. That it is solvable is the good news,” she said. Read more via Irish Times