Suicide was like a 'contagious disease that spread' through an Army battalion that saw five soldiers die within the space of 18 months, an inquest has heard. 

The admission came from a high-ranking Army major yesterday (Monday, November 11) at Northallerton Coroners Court during the sixth day of a ten-day inquest into the death of a soldier in Catterick in 2022.

Nicki Hart, 33, who served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, was found dead at Catterick Garrison on February 5, 2022, after years of battling mental health and personal problems.

Nicki HartNicki Hart (Image: PA MEDIA) It was heard on Monday that the father-of-three, who was originally from South Wales, had tried to take his own life on several occasions in the past, with his family raising concerns and questions about his welfare and mental health.

This mental health struggle for Highlander Hart began in 2012 after he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a 2012 tour of Afghanistan, which intensified following a second tour of Afghanistan in 2020.

Other tragedies and stresses in Nicki's life included the death of a close friend Ryan Mackenzie at the barracks six months before, as well as family problems and his wife experiencing a miscarriage, which were all factors in a mental health deterioration.

Catterick GarrisonCatterick Garrison (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) However, an admission about the protocols in place within the Army and whether lessons could be learned was made.  

During the witness testimony of Major Simon Russell, who was Highlander Hart's commanding officer, it was heard that four other soldiers had also taken their own lives at the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which was based at Catterick Garrison. 

Maj Russell told the court that the whole battalion had tried to be "proactive" when it came to tackling the mental health issues - but he admitted that suicide within the barracks could be 'contagious' and that lessons could be learned.

IRWIN MITCHELL/SWNSIRWIN MITCHELL/SWNS (Image: IRWIN MITCHELL/SWNS) Speaking at the inquest, he said: "The issue of suicide in the battalion was an issue. If multiple people took their own lives in a short timeframe, it was certainly normalised, and it probably made others less shielded.

"The proximity that soldiers have to suicide and self-harm, risk factors were in place and work was done around this - but lessons can be learned."

Despite Maj. Russell's beliefs about suicide being 'contagious' at the barracks, he noted that it wasn't exclusive to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland or Catterick Garrison, and said he thought it was part of a 'wider societal issue' when it comes to men's mental health. 

The inquest also heard that several meetings about Highlander Hart's mental health were staged six months before his death at Catterick Garrison, with the mental health provision at the army base believing the soldier posed "little threat" to himself.

Nicki Hart with sister JamieNicki Hart with sister Jamie (Image: IRWIN MITCHELL/SWNS) But these worries about Nicki's mental health were stepped up in January 2022, when it was agreed to monitor him twice a day and put him on light duties in the Army stores at Catterick Garrison, due to concerns about his drinking, his welfare, and his meetings with mental health services.

Maj Russell noted that he was "completely unaware" of Highlander Hart's previous suicide attempts, and would have "acted differently" if this information had been shared. 

Admitting this could have been a learning point for the British Army, alongside the fact that a rehabilitation centre could have been established for the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, he said that Highlander Hart's colleagues had "done all they could to keep him alive".

This included spending evenings with him in the barracks, inviting him out of the barracks on a weekend on day trips, and performing consistent checks on him.

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One of those who kept an eye on Nicki was former soldier David Twiname, who lived above Nicki at Catterick, who previously told the inquest that he would sit with Nicki in his room and keep him company and text him when he wasn't there to make sure he was okay.

A toxicology report found the amount of alcohol in Highlander Hart's system would have put the soldier more than twice the legal drink-drive limit when he died.

A Service Inquiry Report has found that there were “missed opportunities” in the care he received before he died.

The inquest continues.

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