Soldier, 20, ‘jumpy’ following a tour of Afghanistan was found hanged

Soldier, 20, worried by £6,000 of debt and ‘jumpy’ following a tour of Afghanistan was found hanged in his room just months after his fellow rifleman died in the same way, inquest hears

  • Rifleman Darren Mitchell from London hanged himself at Abercorn Barracks in Ballykinler, County Down
  • The 20-year-old had landed his dream job and had a girlfriend but felt isolated  
  • His mother told the inquest he would have seen £6,000 debt as insurmountable 
  • Carol Mitchell does not blame the Army but says more could be done

A soldier who was £6,000 in debt, jumpy after his service in Afghanistan and felt isolated was found hanged in his room at an Army base in Northern Ireland, an inquest has heard.

Rifleman Darren Mitchell, 20, from London, was found dead at Abercorn Barracks in Ballykinler, Co Down, on February 10 2013.

It came just months after another soldier, Lance Corporal James Ross, 30, from Leeds, was also found hanged in his room, in December 2012.

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

An inquest sitting at Ballymena courthouse is examining both deaths.

Rifleman Darren Mitchell whose inquest, along with Lance Corporal James Ross, is taking place in Ballymena

Carol Mitchell told the inquest it was a ‘perfect storm’ of factors that contributed to her son’s death.

She described how he had been in debt up to £6,000, an amount that she said would have seemed ‘insurmountable’ to Darren, pointing out he was just 20.

Following his death, she said the owed back pay from the Army settled those debts.

Mrs Mitchell also told the inquest that Darren had told her about two incidents in Afghanistan which upset him.


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Lance Corporal James Ross (pictured) was found hanged. Their deaths were at Abercorn Barracks just eight months apart

Entrance to Ballykinler barracks in Co Down, Northern Ireland where two men died 

In one, he had been due to be the soldier at the front of a patrol but was swapped with a colleague at the last minute. That soldier then suffered severe leg injuries in an attack.

She also detailed that towards the end of 2012, he had become hyper vigilant, confided in her less, was jumpy and struggling to sleep.

He had successfully applied for his ‘dream job’ in the Army as an outdoor activity instructor, but this had involved undertaking courses across the UK and in Spain and Germany which left him very tired.

In addition, Mrs Mitchell 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.

When he returned to Ballykinler 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,’ Mrs Mitchell told the inquest.

‘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.’

She added that she did not blame the Army for his death but felt more could have been done to help him.

The inquest continues.

Anyone who would like help can call the Samaritans anonymously at any time of the day or night, on 116 123, or visit their website by clicking here. 

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