An army inquest is scheduled to investigate the death of a Scottish soldier amidst concerns of a potential ‘suicide cluster’ within his battalion. The soldier, Nicki Hart, aged 33, who served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, tragically passed away at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire in February 2022 after struggling with mental health issues. According to an Army Service Inquiry Report, there were ‘several missed opportunities’ that hindered the support efforts for him. The report also brought to light a potential ‘suicide cluster’ following four sudden deaths within the 4th Battalion between 2018 and 2022.
The inquest into Nicki Hart’s death, set to commence on Monday, is eagerly awaited by his bereaved family in the hope of gaining much-needed answers. His grieving widow Sara, 38, expressed, “Nicki was my world, and losing him suddenly and tragically continues to impact me daily.” She further emphasised the need for more support for Nicki and expressed her desire for the inquest to honour his memory and prevent other families from enduring similar tragedies.
The Army report revealed that Nicki had previously made suicide attempts in 2012 and 2014 after heavy drinking, with his mental health deteriorating further following the suicide of his close friend Ryan MacKenzie at the garrison in 2021. Despite reporting three recent suicide attempts in 2022, it took time for Nicki to receive mental health support due to a shortage of psychiatrists, leading to prolonged wait times for appointments.
Following Nicki’s demise, his mother, Sara, and sister, Jamie Hart-Dobbs, engaged expert medical negligence lawyers to delve into the circumstances surrounding his death. Jamie expressed her ongoing struggle to accept Nicki’s absence and her hopes for answers from the upcoming inquest to aid in their healing process and contribute to supporting other soldiers facing mental health challenges.
Nicki is one of eight soldiers from Catterick who have died suddenly or by suicide since 2018, including Lance Cpl Bernie Mongan and Private Thamir Mbarushimana. The inquest aims to explore all recent deaths within the unit from 2018-2022 to ascertain if a ‘suicide cluster’ occurred. The legal representative of Nicki’s family reiterated their desire for a comprehensive investigation to uncover all lessons that can support Armed Forces personnel.
The upcoming 10-day inquest, beginning on Monday, November 4, at Northallerton Coroners Court, will endeavour to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Nicki Hart’s tragic passing and address the concerns of a potential ‘suicide cluster’ within the battalion.