Father commits suicide over housing dilemma

Friday 7th September 2007, 12:00AM BST.

A FATHER of two killed himself by drinking chemicals used for killing bugs on a golf course, an inquest heard yesterday.

Devastated by news that his family were to be evicted from their home, St Clement groundsman José Manuel Escrcio (47) drank insecticide in his work shed on 17 April this year. Friends told how Mr Escrcio, who had a 21-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter, had become depressed and angry at his problems in finding a new home for his family after being told by the owners that they would have to leave. He had also been told by the Housing Department that he could not have a three-bedroom house because his son was too old. His neighbour Debbie O’Donnell said: ‘He took it very badly. He just walked around with his head down and I couldn’t even get a smile out of him. He was just so angry about everything. He kept saying: “It’s all messed up”.’

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