Hanged soldier feared mental issues would harm career

A SOLDIER who was found hanged near his barracks failed to disclose mental health issues because he feared it would harm his career, an inquest was told.

Daniel O’grady, 21, confided in his fellow recruits at Blandford Camp, Dorset, about his psychological troubles, but felt unable to tell senior staff.

He had been taking Modafinil , a prescription-only “smart drug”, to treat his sleepiness and improve his cognitive functions, according to fellow trainee and roommate John Milton.

Mr Milton said: “He questioned his own mental health. I wanted him to open up to members of staff, but he was more worried about how it would affect his career. He discussed it with other trainees on the course.

“Dan was taking Modafinil. He said it helped him to be more focused and stay awake, but my concern was, he had quite an aggressive retaliation to it at certain points. He would lose his

‘Dan was taking Modafinil. He would lose his temper, and he said he knew it was making him act differently’

temper quite easily, and he said he knew it was making him act differently during the course.”

Mr O’grady had allegedly been assaulted at the camp in October last year and had an argument over a woman with another trainee in a separate incident, Bournemouth Coroner’s Court heard.

His mother Angela, who is the mayor of Llandudno in north Wales, said she believed her son was happy in the Army, having enrolled in March 2018.

She dismissed Mr Milton’s “vindictive” claim, saying her son had never failed an Army drugs test.

Mrs O’grady last spoke with her son on the evening of Feb 18 when he was said to be “in good spirits”.

His roommates heard him leave the room around 6am the following morning, but only became worried and raised the alarm when he was not present for inspection at 7am.

Mrs O’grady was asked to alert the police at 10.30am, but the staff sergeant said it was not necessary as her son was probably travelling home to visit her.

His body was found at Black Lane, Blandford Forum, on Feb 20. The coroner was told that soldiers are not deemed to be absent without leave until they have been missing for at least 48 hours.

The inquest continues.