Select Committee on Defence Written Evidence


Memorandum from Mr James, Mrs Helen and Mr Stuart Mckenna

  With reference to the forthcoming inquiry into how the Armed Forces discharge their Duty of Care.

  We are the parents and brother of David Mckenna who died on 11 September 1995 at Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh. He was a private with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers at the time of his death.

  David joined the army in August 1994 a few months after passing the initial entry examination. The sergeant at the recruitment centre was surprised at the passmark David got and said he would like to put him up for Officer Recruitment. David was happy at that and an interview was arranged. David was told to meet with the Major at the main centre in Queens Street Glasgow but the Major was actually at Hamilton waiting for David to turn up. The Major could not meet with David for a month so as he was anxious to join he went ahead as a regular soldier. He spent his first few months at Glencourse Barracks in Edinburgh. It was there he sustained a bad ankle injury and was held back in order to complete his initial training. He eventually passed out near the end of 1994 and went on to Ouston for the 2nd part. It was here that he realised that sergeants would play a big part in his life. One sergeant boasted that he kept himself and his family in cigarettes by making sure every recruit left a packet in their locker at every inspection just to make sure they would get through. Another sergeant caused him severe injury by making him run with a full pack. His ankle had gone from under him but he was made to keep running until he collapsed and had to be taken straight to hospital, his boot had to be cut off (he had to pay to replace it) and he was kept in hospital for a few weeks. He had then to be given special insoles to wear so he was able to walk. Most of the soldiers who were there at the time experienced brutality. One of David's friends suffered frostbite on most of his toes and had to be pensioned out at the age of 17. Kit was stolen from the boys almost systematically and their personal belongings were stolen as well. David survived but only just and passed on 12 April 1995. He was about eight weeks late passing out because of the injuries he had sustained.

  This then meant that the friends that he had gone through the training with were already at their regiments. David was the only soldier, from the Passing Out Parade who was going on to the Kings Own. This we feel was the start of the bullying that went on. David walked into the Barracks that day on his own with no friends at his side. He was then assigned to C Company all his friends were in A Company. He was disappointed at this as he had already been told that C Company was one that nobody wanted to be in. David arrived in Dreghorn on 1 May 1995 and died there on 11 September 1995.

  During his time at Dreghorn Barracks David was constantly bullied. After his death a soldier informed us, through a family member, the names of a Sergeant and a Corporal, whom in the soldiers words "if one did not get him the other did". David was also bullied by another soldier Private ***, who at the time of David's death was out on bail charged with attempted murder. Our son had never come in contact with such people and was terrified. Private *** made my son's life hell. He demanded that my son drive him wherever he wanted to go. Even on one occasion, a few weeks before David died, he wanted to be taken to Strathclyde Country Park. David was made drive him and two others to the Park after being on duty all night. The Park borders our home and David came here first. David came into the house frightened and when we went to the car the three soldiers were very drunk with bottles of Buckfast Tonic Wine in the car. We told David to stay in the house and we dropped the soldiers off at the park.

  On another occasion, *** held a chair over David's head and made him run him home to Carluke, which is about five miles from our home. David had an appointment to meet with Colonel *** regarding Officer Training that morning and he was going to be late back at the Barracks. He came home first in a terrible state not knowing what to do. We eventually calmed him down and he went and had a shower, while we telephoned the regiment. When phoning all they wanted to know was when he would be back. There was no concern for David's well being whatsoever. We said he would be back ASAP but wondered what was happening to our son. David did go back and met with the Colonel. He phoned the next day to let us know what happened, but he was angry that we had mentioned our concern, and said that we will never know what they did.

  These are only two incidents that happened, but surely your committee must realise that to be parents and have to stand back and see this happening to a dearly loved son is not acceptable in this day and age. We were frightened to do anything to help in case it would cause him more grief. We spoke to David the week before he died and tried to get him to report everything that was going on. He said he had no-one to talk to. The chain of command was the only thing he could use and it was this that was the problem. How could he report misconduct to the people who were doing it in the first place? On the Thursday before he died we spoke to our Minister and he was going to try to speak to the Chaplain to see if he could help. This unfortunately was too late in preventing David's death.

  Even after David's death the way the army dealt with us was appalling. We were told that David died at the side of his bed with a rifle by his side. It was only after his funeral that we found out that he had died in the toilet block. His rifle had been wiped clean and left on a draining board in the utility room. No forensics were therefore carried out on the gun. When his belongings were returned, flung in a cardboard box, things were missing. We reported this but nothing was recovered. What calibre of young men we must have in our armed forces when they even steal the shoes of the dead.

  We cannot accept the fact that a happy, clever, well adjusted boy of 19 was forced into a situation that he was so desperate the only way out was to take his own life. We took care of him for 18 years, the army had him for just over one year the regiment for four months and he died. They certainly failed in their duty of care to our son. We fought against them and eventually a Fatal Accident Inquiry was held into David's death we attended every day for a week and listened to all the evidence. The army did not think my son was worthy of an inquiry as no officer from the regiment came to the court to listen to the evidence. The sheriff *** also slated them for not being in court in his report. The report also said that David was bullied but because he had not reported any problems the army could not be held responsible.

  We have lost our son and our other son an older brother. David can never be replaced and we all miss him every day of our lives. We feel guilty because we could not help him when he needed us most. The hurt does not go away. It is eight years since David died and he is missed every day. Time has not healed any wounds, we only cope better. The treatment we as a family received from the Army after David's death did nothing to help us. Since the Fatal Accident Inquiry no one from the regiment has ever been in touch not even on the anniversary of David's death. They have forgotten about him, we never will.

  The committee has it in its power to do something to stop this happening to other young soldiers, and their families. We would plead with you to make the army examine their Duty of Care responsibilities and make sure any recommendations are carried out and the Army changes its way of dealing with young soldiers.

  We submit this report on behalf of our Son and Brother Private David Mckenna Army no 24942677.

April 2004





 
previous page contents next page

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries index

© Parliamentary copyright 2005
Prepared 14 March 2005