Army camp inquest continues

Army camp inquest continues

13 February 2019

THE mother of a soldier who is believed to have taken his own life while stationed at Ballykinlar army camp has told an inquest that he faced ‘a perfect storm’ of stresses. 

Rifleman Darren Mitchell (20) from London was found hanged in his room at Abercorn Barracks on February 10, 2013.

His death came shortly after another soldier, Lance Corporal James Ross (30), from Leeds, was found hanged in his room on December 8, 2012.

Both soldiers were serving with the Second Battalion the Rifles which had previously been on active service in Afghanistan.

At the inquest into both deaths held in Ballymena, Mrs Carol Mitchell said a “perfect storm” of factors contributed to her son’s passing.

She described how he had been in debt up to £6,000, an amount she told the inquest that would have seemed ‘insurmountable’ to him due to his young age. Mrs Mitchell explained that following her son’s death, his owed back pay from the Army would have settled the debt.

The soldier’s mother also revealed that he had told her about two incidents in Afghanistan which had upset him. 

In one of them, he had been due to be the soldier at the front of the patrol but was swapped with a colleague at the last minute. The soldier who replaced him subsequently suffered severe leg injuries in an attack.

Mrs Mitchell also told the inquest that towards the end of 2012, her son had become hyper vigilant, confided in her less, was jumpy and struggled to sleep.

She described how he had successfully applied for his “dream job” in the Army as an outdoor instructor, explaining this had involved undertaking courses in the UK, Spain and Germany which left him very tired.

The soldier’s mother also described how her son had felt isolated after a knee injury held him back from joining his unit in Afghanistan, and instead had to serve with a different unit. 

She said that when he returned to Ballykinlar and the new job, he continued to feel isolated as a number of soldiers were taking redundancy at that time.

“Everything hit him at that precise moment. He thought everyone was leaving, he was exhausted, his back pay hadn’t come through, he had had a row with Cher (his girlfriend) and he had just got back after being away for a long time.”

Mrs Mitchell added that she did not blame the army for her son’s death but felt more could have been done to help him. 

A statement form Rifleman Mitchell’s friend, Kendall Gibson, also referred to an incident when the 20 year-old ran away from fireworks.

“He said the fireworks reminded him too much of Afghanistan,” stated Mr Gibson, adding that he was also concerned about his friend’s drinking.

Three soldiers — friends of Rifleman Mitchell — who had discovered his body were sent twice to another barracks in Lisburn for treatment which included counselling.

The inquest also heard that it was common place for soldiers to refer to the local army base as “Bally-kill-yourself”.

Driving instructor William Riley, who had been taking Lance Corporal Ross for HGV lessons in the week before his suspected suicide, told the inquest that the soldier was one of many who used the term. 

Mr Riley told how the Lance Corporal had cut a “frustrated’” figure in the week before his death, displayed an attitude problem and had been involved in a verbal altercation with another instructor two days before his death.

The inquest continues.