Soldier son ‘never meant to take his own life’

A MOTHER from Leeds has urged the Army to “get it right” after a coroner concluded her soldier son, who was found hanged at an Army base in Northern Ireland, did not intend to take his own life.

Lance Corporal James Ross, 30, from Leeds, was found dead in his room at Abercorn Barracks in Ballykinler, Co Down, on December 8, 2012.

His mother, Linda Ketcher, yesterday said she felt the finding about her son’s death was right.

Speaking outside Ballymena Court House, she said: “We always knew he never meant to do this, so the findings for us are right. It doesn’t make it any easier but it is right.”

She went on to urge the Army to “smarten up” and “get it right”, adding that she thought an awful lot had been learned during the three weeks of evidence.

She said: “I have sat in every day and listened to every piece of evidence and I think there is a lot to be learned, whether or not they take it on board and hopefully the coroner taking these points on will take it a bit further. These guys need help and when they need it, it needs to be there.”

Belfast coroner Joe McCrisken said he was not satisfied to the required standard that Lance Cpl Ross intended to take his own life.

“I consider James Ross’s death to be an accident,” he said.

The inquest also examined the death of Rifleman Darren Mitchell, 20, from London, who was found hanged in his room at the base on February 10, 2013.

Mr McCrisken said he was satisfied on the balance of probability that Rifleman Mitchell did intend to take his own life.

Both men were serving with Second Battalion the Rifles at the time of their deaths and had been on active service in Afghanistan.

Mr McCrisken said that he plans to write to the head of the Army following the inquest to highlight his findings.

He did not find the Army had failed either of the men, and found no evidence of bullying or a culture that dissuaded soldiers from coming forward.

But Mr McCrisken said there is “work to be done” to encourage soldiers to come forward to seek help with mental health issues.