Lance Corporal James Ross (pictured), 30, from Leeds, was found hanged at Abercorn Army base in Ballykinler on December 8 2012
The mother of a young soldier who 'took his own life' at an 'isolated' barracks where another soldier 'killed himself' months later says he was planning a late family Christmas.
Lance Corporal James Ross, 30, from Leeds, who served in Afghanistan, was found hanged at Abercorn Army base in Ballykinler, Northern Ireland, on December 8 2012.
His mother Linda Ketcher told an inquest into his death that he had cancelled leave for the festive period to allow others with families and children to get it instead.
But she said he told her to keep his presents under the tree so they could celebrate a late Christmas together.
Soldier Darren Mitchell, 20, from London also died from suspected suicide three months later.
Mrs Ketcher told the inquest that her son found Ballykinler to be a cold and isolated place, so he kept himself busy by keeping fit and taking a number of courses.
But she said he was happy in his career and very pleased at his recent promotion to Lance Corporal.
'He found a career that he loved and was progressing well at it,' she said.
But Mrs Ketcher said she does not believe it is acceptable that young men who had served with the Army in Afghanistan should then be sent to isolated barracks such as Ballykinler.
She said James was 'gutted' to be posted to Ballykinler after his second tour of Afghanistan from October 2011 to April 2012.
Linda Ketcher (pictured) told an inquest into his death that her son told her to keep his presents under the tree so they could celebrate a late Christmas together
Lance Corporal Ross was found hanged at Abercorn Army base (left and right) in Ballykinler, Northern Ireland
The mother also told the inquest she believed she was prevented from speaking to her son's soldier friends by more senior people from the Army.
She said that, during her son's funeral, whenever one of his friends came over to speak to her, they were interrupted.
'A few of them (his friends from the Army) were visibly upset,' she told the inquest.
'If any of the guys who served with him (came to speak to me), within minutes, there would be someone ushering them away from me.
'It just felt really odd that I could not have a conversation of any kind with his friends from his regiment.'
Mrs Ketcher said her son confided in her about some incidents which upset him.
Soldier Darren Mitchell (pictured), 20, from London also died from suspected suicide three months later
'An Afghan man came running towards him carrying something in a blanket,' she told the inquest. 'As he approached the man opened the blanket, a little girl was in there who was badly injured.'
She described how he tried to help the child before alerting the medics to help her. She said he found that incident very distressing and it stayed with him.
James' sister Helen Thomas also gave evidence to say he was disturbed by the incident with the little girl as she had reminded him of his niece and nephew.
Mrs Ketcher also questioned why there were two incidents where young men appeared to take their own lives within three months at Ballykinler.
'We are asking is there adequate care there?' she said.
For confidential support, log on to samaritans.org or call the Samaritans on 116123.
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News Photo Lance Corporal found hanged at barracks where another soldier 'killed himself'
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