WE applaud the decision not to prosecute the parents of paralysed rugby player Dan James over his death at a Swiss assisted suicide clinic.

In October this newspaper first reported the circumstances of Dan’s death and the ongoing police investigation. Our report led to huge amounts of media coverage both at home and abroad.

We said then that his death was a private issue but its nature was a matter of public interest. That remains the case given the continuing national debate about the legality of assisted suicide. The decision of the Crown Prosecution Service not to bring charges against Dan’s parents Mark and Julie is also in the public interest.

We do not believe there would be anything to be gained in putting this couple, who implored their son not to take his own life, through the ordeal of a court case.

They have suffered enough already.

It is likely that other people in their situation will suffer similarly in the future.

We do not see how there can be a definitive legal ruling on the likelihood of prosecution for those who have assisted a suicide. Every case will be utterly tragic but also utterly different.

Each case, therefore, has to be considered separately.

It is right that Mark and Julie James are not to be prosecuted over the death of their son. But in other cases it may be right for charges to be brought. In this instance we congratulate the CPS for a considered, sensible and sympathetic decision.

And we hope the James family can begin to move forward now the threat of prosecution has been removed.