Pc killed himself after 19 deaths in his family

A POLICE officer who counselled grieving families killed himself after 19 deaths in his own family, an inquest heard.

Pc Rick Hooley, 50, worked as a family liaison officer for Cheshire Police for 16 years. But when his sister and mother died, father-oftwo Pc Hooley was diagnosed with severe anxiety and stress.

Fiona Damm, a counsellor who saw him, said in a statement: “He said that there had been 19 deaths in his life since he was six and he was particularly upset by the death of his sister. I asked him if he had suicidal thoughts or intentions. He said he had thoughts but not intentions. He said that his daughters would prevent him from doing this.”

But on Sept 26 last year, Pc Hooley drove to the Thelwall Viaduct near his home in Northwich, Cheshire, and was seen to fall off the parapet. Colleagues found his body 30ft below. He was given a posthumous honour for his work in June.

In 2014 Pc Hooley told a local newspaper about his job, saying: “You know the news you have got is going to change lives.”

Recording a conclusion of suicide at Warrington Coroner’s Court, coroner Alan Moore said: “He had been blighted by unexpected deaths in his family and his grief characterised his attitude towards life.”