Widow 'disappointed' her soldier husband's body laid in barracks for three weeks
The widow of a soldier who died in his barracks has said it is 'unforgivable' that it took three weeks to find his body.
Father-of-three Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan's decomposing body was discovered on January 23, 2020, in his bedroom at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.
His widow Beth Mongan believes he 'took his own life while in crisis' after complaining of being bullied by senior officers.
But senior coroner Jon Heath said at his inquest on Thursday it was 'not possible to determine' how Mongan died. He recorded an open conclusion.
The inquest at North Yorkshire Coroner's Court had heard that doctors couldn't be sure of the 33-year-old's medical cause of death due to the decomposition of his body.
Beth, who was separated from Mongan at the time of his death, called the conclusion 'an enormous disappointment' and said her husband was 'very badly let down by the Army'.
Other soldiers and officers told the inquest how Mongan had suffered bullying behaviour in the barracks.
One former corporal Stephen Timmerman said 'bullying would be an understatement'.
He described how the lance corporal was 'shouted, screamed and swore at' and 'forced' to do extra runs in his lunch break without being given time to eat.
Three other witnesses said he was 'spoken to in a despicable manner,' '100% victimised' and 'never spoken to respectfully'.
The coroner's found that Mongan had 'on occasions [been] treated and spoken to by his chain of command in a way that caused him distress'.
The last person to speak to Mongan described him as distressed, crying and drunk.
In the days leading up to when he was last seen, he gave away his Nintendo to a friend's son and told another friend he 'had bought pills but not taken them'.
He also made two donations to a suicide charity.
They added: 'Bernie was supposed to be checked on over the Christmas period while he was staying alone in his Army accommodation.
'Astonishingly one of the men Bernie had accused of mistreating him was assigned to do those checks and he admitted at this inquest that he did not perform a single one of them.
'For that failure, he was ordered to perform an 'extra duty' as punishment.'
The coroner said Mongan was not checked on in his accommodation block over the Christmas period.
Speaking after the inquest, Beth Mongan had been expecting the open conclusion because of 'the Army's failure of leaving him for so long'.
She added: 'I've come to my own conclusions over the years. It's hard not having it for the kids.
'Knowing Bernie, and he did suffer with his mental health over the years and his treatment in the Army, I believe he took his own life.
'I believe (the Army) failed him, they didn't investigate the bullying accusations the way they should have done.'
The widow added that 'it forever will be unforgivable' that Mongan's body was undiscovered for three weeks on a military site.
'I know they've apologised but that doesn't take away the fact that they failed him on that front,' she added.
Mongan was due to start a deployment with 77 Brigade in January 2020, but they did not report him absent 'as he should have been' from January 7.
He had been looking forward to his new deployment, Heath said in his findings, and had made a list of 'things to do in 2020' on a post-it note found in his room.
Mongan had tired to kill himself several years earlier when his marriage was breaking down, the inquest heard.
The coroner said of these previous suicide attempts were 'caused by feeling he was not going to see his children again'.
Heath said this was not the same with Mongan's death in January 2020. More Trending
The two most likely causes of death were that the soldier poisoned himself or suffered sudden abnormality of the heart, the inquest heard.
Barbiturates, a depressant drug, were found in the solider's system. He had bought one of them illegally.
Pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper was unable to decide which cause of death was most likely.
He said: 'I've thought about this long and hard but I just don't think I can, I don't think I have enough positive evidence to go in one direction or the other.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Sisters drowned in pool at beauty spot after travelling to Snowdonia with friends, inquest hears
MORE: Man jailed for 39 years after killing partner and neighbour in Christmas Day attack
MORE: This is what you see the moment you die, according to scientists
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Family of woman who died after drink-driver sped away from police ‘heartbroken'
Kitchen designer Lillie Clack, 22, of Morden, south London, was injured and died days after the crash in the early hours of Christmas Day 2021. She was among six people who squeezed into the overcrowded Mercedes driven by Charlie Hilton, 25, who was chased by police before the car hit a tree, flipped over and burst into flames. The friends had been enjoying a Winter Wonderland attraction in the West End and visited a pub in Morden before accepting a lift home from Hilton. Her mother Debbie Clack told the inquest at South London Coroner's Court: 'Lillie is always on my mind. Did Lillie suffer? I know that she would have been scared and wanted her mummy.' In her impact statement, she added: 'My heart splintered into a million pieces and Lillie is the only medication that can fix it.' Earlier she dabbed away tears as she sat looking at a large photograph of her daughter and details of Lillie's injuries were read, including complications of a head injury that was given as the cause of death in a post-mortem examination. Lillie hoped to have a family of her own one day and dreamed of creating a granny annex, telling her mother 'there is no other person I would let look after my children'. Ms Clack, who said she suffers from anxiety and depression, said: 'Living without Lillie is like living without air, some days are a struggle to breathe.' She said they would always say 'no matter what we did we would do it together, now Lillie is gone'. She remembered Lillie as beautiful and hardworking. During the lockdown, Lillie's workplace closed and she worked as a Sainsbury's delivery driver. In February 2023, Hilton was jailed at the Old Bailey for 10 years and six months after pleading guilty to causing Miss Clack's death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury, failing to stop when directed and driving above the alcohol limit. He was also disqualified from driving for five years after his release from prison. Hilton was travelling at over 100mph at some points in the chase, carried out an illegal U-turn and ran through a red light as passengers inside the car begged him to stop, the inquest has heard. Lillie's brother Michael said Christmas which is a time of joy for many families is now painful for theirs. In a statement read on his behalf, he said: 'I will never forgive Charlie Hilton for what he did to Lillie as he has ruined my life and the life of my family.' Like his mother, Mr Clack said he is also haunted by Lillie's last moments and mourning the happy times they had hoped to share one day. He said: 'What did she feel? How much pain was she in? How scared was she? These are all questions that will never be answered.' He said her death has had a 'massive impact upon my family and everyone around' and Christmas is treated as 'just another day' as it is the date the police came to the family's door to say she was injured. Hilton had been told by his passengers that a police vehicle had turned its blue lights on behind them and was indicating for him to stop. Instead, he sped up and was driving so fast that the passengers bumped their head on the roof of the car as they were chased by police. At one point Sergeant Alexander Gill said his police car was doing 90mph in a 40mph zone and Hilton's Mercedes was 'greatly getting away'. Police called off the chase, which lasted about three minutes, after losing sight of the Mercedes. Miss Clack's boyfriend Jack Watson and best friend Delia Casey were among those who were badly hurt. In a statement Mr Watson, who was in the back seat, remembered seeing police blue lights and sirens and described Hilton's driving as 'dangerous and quick' and thought he could 'easily lose control'. Mr Watson later recalled: 'I think I might have said 'Charlie what are you doing, why are you going so fast'. I think the girls were in shock.' He also remembered saying: 'Charlie, slow down. What are you doing? Let me and Lillie out.' He recalled Hilton telling him to shut up. Mr Watson does not remember the crash but does recall being pulled out on a stretcher and bleeding from his lip. He added: 'I remember asking 'where's Lillie?'. I remember being in an ambulance and blood on my jacket but I do not know where the blood came from. 'My clothing was cut off from me – and I knew then that it was bad.' In a statement, Miss Casey who was sitting on the front seat, said: 'Everyone was shouting inside the car. There was a lot going on and I was just feeling very fearful for everyone in the car. 'The speed we were going at made me feel terrified. 'It feels like I was only in there for a few seconds. It feels like a blur.'
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Family of woman who died after drink-driver sped away from police ‘heartbroken'
Kitchen designer Lillie Clack, 22, of Morden, south London, was injured and died days after the crash in the early hours of Christmas Day 2021. She was among six people who squeezed into the overcrowded Mercedes driven by Charlie Hilton, 25, who was chased by police before the car hit a tree, flipped over and burst into flames. The friends had been enjoying a Winter Wonderland attraction in the West End and visited a pub in Morden before accepting a lift home from Hilton. Her mother Debbie Clack told the inquest at South London Coroner's Court: 'Lillie is always on my mind. Did Lillie suffer? I know that she would have been scared and wanted her mummy.' In her impact statement, she added: 'My heart splintered into a million pieces and Lillie is the only medication that can fix it.' Earlier she dabbed away tears as she sat looking at a large photograph of her daughter and details of Lillie's injuries were read, including complications of a head injury that was given as the cause of death in a post-mortem examination. Lillie hoped to have a family of her own one day and dreamed of creating a granny annex, telling her mother 'there is no other person I would let look after my children'. Ms Clack, who said she suffers from anxiety and depression, said: 'Living without Lillie is like living without air, some days are a struggle to breathe.' She said they would always say 'no matter what we did we would do it together, now Lillie is gone'. She remembered Lillie as beautiful and hardworking. During the lockdown, Lillie's workplace closed and she worked as a Sainsbury's delivery driver. Lillie Clack, 22, was among six people who squeezed into a Mercedes driven by Charlie Hilton who was chased by police before the car hit a tree ( In February 2023, Hilton was jailed at the Old Bailey for 10 years and six months after pleading guilty to causing Miss Clack's death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury, failing to stop when directed and driving above the alcohol limit. He was also disqualified from driving for five years after his release from prison. Hilton was travelling at over 100mph at some points in the chase, carried out an illegal U-turn and ran through a red light as passengers inside the car begged him to stop, the inquest has heard. Lillie's brother Michael said Christmas which is a time of joy for many families is now painful for theirs. In a statement read on his behalf, he said: 'I will never forgive Charlie Hilton for what he did to Lillie as he has ruined my life and the life of my family.' Like his mother, Mr Clack said he is also haunted by Lillie's last moments and mourning the happy times they had hoped to share one day. He said: 'What did she feel? How much pain was she in? How scared was she? These are all questions that will never be answered.' He said her death has had a 'massive impact upon my family and everyone around' and Christmas is treated as 'just another day' as it is the date the police came to the family's door to say she was injured. Lillie was remembered as 'beautiful' and 'hardworking' with dreams of one day becoming a mother ( Hilton had been told by his passengers that a police vehicle had turned its blue lights on behind them and was indicating for him to stop. Instead, he sped up and was driving so fast that the passengers bumped their head on the roof of the car as they were chased by police. At one point Sergeant Alexander Gill said his police car was doing 90mph in a 40mph zone and Hilton's Mercedes was 'greatly getting away'. Police called off the chase, which lasted about three minutes, after losing sight of the Mercedes. Miss Clack's boyfriend Jack Watson and best friend Delia Casey were among those who were badly hurt. In a statement Mr Watson, who was in the back seat, remembered seeing police blue lights and sirens and described Hilton's driving as 'dangerous and quick' and thought he could 'easily lose control'. Mr Watson later recalled: 'I think I might have said 'Charlie what are you doing, why are you going so fast'. I think the girls were in shock.' He also remembered saying: 'Charlie, slow down. What are you doing? Let me and Lillie out.' He recalled Hilton telling him to shut up. Mr Watson does not remember the crash but does recall being pulled out on a stretcher and bleeding from his lip. He added: 'I remember asking 'where's Lillie?'. I remember being in an ambulance and blood on my jacket but I do not know where the blood came from. 'My clothing was cut off from me – and I knew then that it was bad.' In a statement, Miss Casey who was sitting on the front seat, said: 'Everyone was shouting inside the car. There was a lot going on and I was just feeling very fearful for everyone in the car. 'The speed we were going at made me feel terrified. 'It feels like I was only in there for a few seconds. It feels like a blur.'
South Wales Guardian
9 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Family of woman who died after drink-driver sped away from police ‘heartbroken'
Kitchen designer Lillie Clack, 22, of Morden, south London, was injured and died days after the crash in the early hours of Christmas Day 2021. She was among six people who squeezed into the overcrowded Mercedes driven by Charlie Hilton, 25, who was chased by police before the car hit a tree, flipped over and burst into flames. The friends had been enjoying a Winter Wonderland attraction in the West End and visited a pub in Morden before accepting a lift home from Hilton. Her mother Debbie Clack told the inquest at South London Coroner's Court: 'Lillie is always on my mind. Did Lillie suffer? I know that she would have been scared and wanted her mummy.' In her impact statement, she added: 'My heart splintered into a million pieces and Lillie is the only medication that can fix it.' Earlier she dabbed away tears as she sat looking at a large photograph of her daughter and details of Lillie's injuries were read, including complications of a head injury that was given as the cause of death in a post-mortem examination. Lillie hoped to have a family of her own one day and dreamed of creating a granny annex, telling her mother 'there is no other person I would let look after my children'. Ms Clack, who said she suffers from anxiety and depression, said: 'Living without Lillie is like living without air, some days are a struggle to breathe.' She said they would always say 'no matter what we did we would do it together, now Lillie is gone'. She remembered Lillie as beautiful and hardworking. During the lockdown, Lillie's workplace closed and she worked as a Sainsbury's delivery driver. In February 2023, Hilton was jailed at the Old Bailey for 10 years and six months after pleading guilty to causing Miss Clack's death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury, failing to stop when directed and driving above the alcohol limit. He was also disqualified from driving for five years after his release from prison. Hilton was travelling at over 100mph at some points in the chase, carried out an illegal U-turn and ran through a red light as passengers inside the car begged him to stop, the inquest has heard. Lillie's brother Michael said Christmas which is a time of joy for many families is now painful for theirs. In a statement read on his behalf, he said: 'I will never forgive Charlie Hilton for what he did to Lillie as he has ruined my life and the life of my family.' Like his mother, Mr Clack said he is also haunted by Lillie's last moments and mourning the happy times they had hoped to share one day. He said: 'What did she feel? How much pain was she in? How scared was she? These are all questions that will never be answered.' He said her death has had a 'massive impact upon my family and everyone around' and Christmas is treated as 'just another day' as it is the date the police came to the family's door to say she was injured. Hilton had been told by his passengers that a police vehicle had turned its blue lights on behind them and was indicating for him to stop. Instead, he sped up and was driving so fast that the passengers bumped their head on the roof of the car as they were chased by police. At one point Sergeant Alexander Gill said his police car was doing 90mph in a 40mph zone and Hilton's Mercedes was 'greatly getting away'. Police called off the chase, which lasted about three minutes, after losing sight of the Mercedes. Miss Clack's boyfriend Jack Watson and best friend Delia Casey were among those who were badly hurt. In a statement Mr Watson, who was in the back seat, remembered seeing police blue lights and sirens and described Hilton's driving as 'dangerous and quick' and thought he could 'easily lose control'. Mr Watson later recalled: 'I think I might have said 'Charlie what are you doing, why are you going so fast'. I think the girls were in shock.' He also remembered saying: 'Charlie, slow down. What are you doing? Let me and Lillie out.' He recalled Hilton telling him to shut up. Mr Watson does not remember the crash but does recall being pulled out on a stretcher and bleeding from his lip. He added: 'I remember asking 'where's Lillie?'. I remember being in an ambulance and blood on my jacket but I do not know where the blood came from. 'My clothing was cut off from me – and I knew then that it was bad.' In a statement, Miss Casey who was sitting on the front seat, said: 'Everyone was shouting inside the car. There was a lot going on and I was just feeling very fearful for everyone in the car. 'The speed we were going at made me feel terrified. 'It feels like I was only in there for a few seconds. It feels like a blur.'
