I CAN’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN

Gazza’s sister launches foundation to help mentally ill in memory of son she lost

THE mum of Paul Gascoigne’s nephew has told of the harrowing moment she cradled her son’s lifeless body, as she sets up a foundation in his name.

Jay Kerrigan was battling mental illness when he took morphine tablets in a desperate bid to escape the torment.

The 22-year-old was so traumatised by “intrusive and destructive thoughts” he was driven to purchase the prescription medicine on the internet when he didn’t get the help he begged for from mental health and alcohol and drug services.

Heartbroken mum Anna also revealed she appealed to a number of rehab centres that had previously helped her brother Gazza to save her son, when she couldn’t afford private rehabilitation, but to no avail.

Now the 50-year-old, from Gateshead, has launched a £100,000 campaign, backed by former Newcastle United legend Gazza and actress friend Denise Welch.

The Jay Lennon Foundation aims to fund specialist assessment beds for young people and adults suffering from mental health and addiction problems.

Anna said: “Jay died from an overdose of morphine tablets that he had bought on the internet – they were found in his jacket pocket in the hours after he died. He bought them with Bitcoins, not because he was a drug addict, but because that was the only way he could silence destructive and intrusive thoughts that were a key symptom of his mental health crisis that tormented him every minute of his waking day.

“Jay was not a recreational drug user; he turned to morphine because he was in mental and physical pain with his mental illness. He was desperate.

“He fell through the cracks and now he’s dead. I can’t let the same happen to another son or daughter, which is why I’m determined something must be done.

“I’m determined that Jay’s legacy is one of love, inspiration and change and the first change will be funding specialist assessment beds for those with both addiction and complex mental health problems when they reach crisis point, like my Jay did.”

Jay shared a close bond with uncle Gazza, who helped to carry his coffin at his funeral.

Anna said Jay had been in the mental health system from the age of 12 and had complex mental health issues that affected every part of his life. At 13 he