Minister orders full probe into soldier’s death Widow in plea for truth behind barracks tragedy
“Why did no one check his room at Catterick when he failed to arrive at his new unit?” said Beth.
“It’s a massive duty of care failure by the Army.”
Last week we revealed how L Cpl Mongan told his wife he had been assaulted by two soldiers in November 2018 after being stationed at Catterick earlier that year. It is understood the incident was reported. Beth said: “He had been bullied quite a bit.”
L Cpl Mongan joined the Army in 2004 and fought in the Iraq War. He left in 2012 but rejoined the Royal Signals in 2015 and was serving with the 1st Military Intelligence battalion.
Beth said: “I still can’t believe he’s gone. We were in touch on January 1 and he seemed happy. He spoke about wanting to take the girls to Lapland.
“I wasn’t too worried when a couple of calls went to his voicemail as I knew he was being posted and was involved in important work.
“Then I was told he was found dead on his bed. We are still awaiting postmortem results.”
His mum Mary, 51, said: “I can’t get over what has happened to my son. My child is dead and I have no answers.”
Emma Norton, director of the Centre for Military Justice, said: “It’s vital there is an independent investigation. What cannot happen is for the Army to be left to investigate this matter.” Karen
McLeish, whose son Alistair, 18, was found hanged at Catterick in July 2018, said she was still waiting for answers about his death.
She said: “There was nothing to suggest he was going to take his own life. An investigation is needed to find out what is so badly wrong at Catterick.”