A family has been thrown in deep chaos after three sons of theirs killed themselves within just a few years of each other.

A family has been torn apart after three sons killed themselves within a few years of each other.

According to The Sun UK, dad-of-one Stephen Ferrin died over the weekend, days after he returned home from going missing.

The 31-year-old's death is the fourth suicide to hit the family, which includes his brothers Niall, 19, and Kieran, 24, who both took their own lives, the Belfast Telegraph has reported.

Heartbroken parents Patricia and Eddie said: "Stephen is a father, a brother and a son who is cherished and deeply loved and he will be sadly missed by all his friends and family.

"He was a handsome young man, who was very witty, and who had lots and lots of friends.

"His death is devastating to us.”

Stephen's cousin Christopher, 19, also reportedly killed himself.

Kieran Ferrin took his own life in February 2014, five months after he was beaten unconscious and left with facial injuries in a sectarian attack in Ardoyne in north Belfast.

In 2011, Kieran and Stephen's 19-year-old brother Niall also took his own life.

When he was 15, Niall had also been a victim of a brutal sectarian attack at the age of 15 where he was beaten unconscious with a golf club.

The brothers' cousin Christopher killed himself in 2011, just days after he reportedly broke down in tears while waiting to see a mental health team.

Friends are also fundraising to support the grieving Ferrin family.