Who is Kenneth Law, the Canadian chef accused of sending ‘suicide kits’ to Ireland?

Gardaí have conducted ‘welfare checks’ at the addresses of his Irish customers

Listen | 28:22
Canadian Kenneth Law (57), who is alleged to have run a global online business selling substances to assist with suicide. Gardai have been made aware he had Irish customers. PA Photograph: Peel Regional Police/PA Wire
Canadian Kenneth Law (57), who is alleged to have run a global online business selling substances to assist with suicide. Gardai have been made aware he had Irish customers. PA Photograph: Peel Regional Police/PA Wire

Kenneth Law is in police custody in Canada, charged with 14 counts of counselling and aiding suicide in that country. The case against him is building, with the 57-year-old chef suspected of sending 1,200 packages to 40 countries through the mail – including Ireland.

His order book showed that he had sent the deadly substance to Irish customers and gardaí have conducted “welfare checks” at several addresses. At some, they found the recipient had died.

People in Ireland ‘died suddenly’ after allegedly buying fatal substance from CanadianOpens in new window ]

Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the current state of the investigation into Law’s activities in Ireland and, from Canada, CBC News reporter Thomas Daigle, who has been covering the story since Law was taken into custody in May, details the latest in what is set to be a long investigation into a particularly tragic crime.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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The Samaritans can be contacted on freephone: 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.ie

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast