The family of a Co Cavan woman who ended her life through assisted suicide at a Swiss clinic has spoken out about the distressing way they were informed of her death.

Megan Royal, daughter of the late Maureen Slough (58), said she learned of her mother’s death via a WhatsApp message from the Pegasos euthanasia clinic. Ms Slough, who had a history of mental illness, had told her family she was going on a short trip to Lithuania in early July. Instead, she travelled alone to Switzerland where she underwent assisted suicide.

Ms ­Royal, who is seeking answers about everything that happened, also revealed the shocking details that her mother’s ashes were sent home to Ireland in the post by the clinic. Adding to the family’s anguish, she said: “There wasn’t even a condolence card with the ashes, just a cremation certificate.”

Ms Royal, who had given birth just weeks before her mother’s death, has been attending counselling to help her process the grief and trauma she has experienced. “It has helped me somewhat, but having a baby and losing my mother within three weeks – I just can’t explain what that even feels like,” she said.

The clinic claims that Ms Slough’s family were aware of her intentions and had accepted them – something the family strongly disputes.

When horrific stories like this emerge, the media’s initial reaction is often one of shock and outrage. But this quickly shifts into a political narrative along the lines of: “We need legislation here to permit assisted suicide in a controlled and restrictive way, to avoid the horror stories of people travelling abroad.”

Don’t be surprised when these articles appear – and more importantly, don’t be fooled by them. Look at the countries that have already introduced euthanasia and see how the nightmare stories grow exponentially.

Paralympian Christine Gauthier recently testified that a Veterans Affairs Canada employee offered her assisted suicide as an option when she made a simple phone call inquiring about the installation of a wheelchair ramp at her home. Her experience is far from uncommon. It’s the logical outcome of a society that starts to make arbitrary judgments about who can live and who can die.

Let’s not delude ourselves into thinking it would be any different if euthanasia were introduced here. Instead, we should reflect on the heartache Ms Slough’s family is enduring right now – and commit ourselves to becoming stronger, more effective advocates in defence of life and of society’s most vulnerable members.