Victor Costello’s Sister Becomes Charity Director

A sister of former Irish rugby international Victor Costello will be unveiled today as the first all-Ireland director of the Samaritans. Dubliner Suzanne Costello will oversee the charity’s 21 branches and 1,856 volunteers on both sides of the Border.

Almost 300,000 people contacted the Samaritans for emotional support in 2005. An average of 15% of callers was suicidal.

Ms Costello, also a former international athlete, has previously worked at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin and the Imperial War Museum in London.

The UCD graduate is a former Irish international athlete at 100 metres and relay and also represented her country in hockey at university level.