Failures let my brave boy kill himself
A GRIEVING mother claims a string of failures led to her war hero son killing himself.
Danny Johnston, a former soldier in the elite Special Reconnaissance Regiment, took his own life in May while suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
His mum Vivienne said Danny had already made one attempt on his life just a week before his death but doctors failed to provide urgent treatment
And she was forced to draft in help from ex-army colleagues to form a search in West Sussex countryside after alleged police failings.
Family friend and Coronation Street actor Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew, joined in the search.
The star also made a missing person’s appeal on Twitter.
Viv said: “Danny was too special to die alone the way he did. He gave his all for this country, only to be completely let down in his hour of need.
“It is disgusting how veterans are treated, they are just left alone.”
Danny, 35, served in Afghanistan and Iraq, often on secretive missions behind enemy lines.
But his prestigious army career was cut short when, while on leave, he was found in possession of nonprescription Valium.
Viv said: “He never slept well. He had seen a lot on the frontline but he used the Valium to sleep only while he was off-duty.
“But when he was found to have it, he was immediately discharged. That was the start of his mental health problems.”
Viv has been working with the charity All Call Signs, which has an app for serving troops and veterans with mental problems.
Sussex Police and the MOD did not respond to calls for comment.
“The Army cannot give me any answers. They held their own inquiry but a lot of the evidence was censored.
“James didn’t leave a note so we don’t know what was going on in his mind.
“I’d like to know if there are any Army records after he returned. Did he say anything? Did he speak to anyone?
“I want answers but the Army have spent six years trying to dodge them.”
The families of both soldiers have yet to have a full explanation over why they may have taken their lives. Death certificates have not been issued.
A Sunday People investigation can reveal that a further six serving or former members of the same battalion 2nd Rifles have died from suspected suicide in the last seven years – more than any other regiment in the Army. Rifleman
Allan