PARENTS’ PLEA ON HARRY’S SAD PAL

A SOLDIER who served alongside Prince Harry was found dead at his home after concerns were raised for his safety, an inquest was told. The parents of Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt, 39, said they wanted their’s son death to help “end the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder”. The hearing, which has been adjourned until June, was told that the father of one had been diagnosed with mental health issues linked to combat stress. Details came in the week that another inquest was told that Private Sean Benton, one of the four soldiers to die at the notorious Deepcut Barracks, was routinely humiliated by Army instructors. Pte Benton, 20, was found dead with five gunshot wounds in his chest in 1995. Over the next seven years a further three soldiers would die from alleged suicides at Deepcut. Three out of the four original inquests have now been quashed and calls for a public inquiry into the deaths are gathering increasing support. Ex-sergeant Trevor Coult, who won the Military Cross in Iraq and suffers from PTSD, called on the MoD and the Veterans Agency to do more to help serving and former military personnel.

Trevor, who is also the veterans’ spokesman for the newly-formed Democrats and Veterans Party, said: “The MoD and the Veterans Agency must do much more to help serving and former members of the forces suffering from mental illnesses such as PTSD.

“Many veterans with PTSD have suicidal thoughts and, tragically, some end up taking their lives. All the indicators and main mental health charities believe the problem will get worse before it gets better. The MoD is currently failing the military community and especially those who are mentally traumatised after fighting for Queen and country.”

Hilary Meredith, chairman of Hilary Meredith Solicitors and Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans Affairs at Chester University, described the suicide toll as damning.

She added: “This is a shocking statistic and one the MoD needs to take seriously. There are many pressures, not least long deployments and time away from loved ones, but bullying unfortunately still plays a large role in these deaths – especially in young recruits. We ask so much of our forces. The MOD needs to give something back.”