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
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