The parents of a Fermanagh man who took his own life due to a gambling addiction have expressed their "bitter disappointment" that the Northern Ireland Assembly will not proceed with a proposed gambling bill.

Peter Keogh described the anger and frustration he and his wife, Sadie, feel over the bill's cancellation.

Their son, Lewis (34), who was from Lisnarick but living in Leeds, took his own life after building up gambling debts of up to £50,000 in 2013.

In response to a question from the now former Traditional Unionist Voice MLA, Jim Allister, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons confirmed that the introduction of a Gambling Bill will not occur in this mandate of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The current mandate of the Northern Ireland Assembly is scheduled to last until the spring of 2027 unless an election is called beforehand.

Minister Lyons responded to Mr. Allister’s question and said: “Having reflected on the issues, I have concluded that it would be impossible for a Bill of the magnitude and complexity required to be drafted and to have made its way through all Assembly scrutiny and legislative processes within the current mandate.

“For that reason, I have decided not to proceed with a gambling Bill in this mandate.”

Mr. Keogh described his “bitter disappointment” and “incredulity” at this development.

He said: “They can’t manage to put together the necessary legislation to get an important piece of work through the Assembly in, say, the next 36 months.

“It’s such an important piece of work that is badly needed in a place that is renowned for having a gambling problem. They have just decided to put it on the back burner. I can’t think of words stronger than deeply disappointed.”

Recent data shows that 2.3 per cent of the population in Northern Ireland has a gambling problem – four times the figure recorded in the rest of the United Kingdom and three times higher than what has been recorded in the Republic of Ireland.

Mr. and Mrs. Keogh have been lobbying on this issue for a number of years and have addressed MLAs as well as the All-Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling.

He added: “What is more important than saving people’s lives from addiction?”

Their son’s gambling addiction was unknown to them and came as a “bolt out of the blue” when they learned about it in the wake of his death.

They have been active with the charity Gambling with Lives, set up in 2018 by families bereaved through gambling-related suicide, which aims to work with young people to raise awareness of the dangerous effects of gambling on mental health, and the high risk of suicide associated with it.

As part of their work with Gambling with Lives, they have given talks in local schools on the harms caused by gambling.

The Keoghs' lobbying has taken them to Stormont, Westminster, and the Dáil. Mr. Keogh says he will continue to fight for legislation, “As long as there is breath in my body.”

Mr. Keogh says that since Lewis’s death, awareness around gambling addiction has become his and his wife’s “raison d'être”.

If you wish to seek support in relation to gambling, contact the Northern Ireland National Gambling Helpline for free on 08000 886 725.