Father-of-three Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan was ‘shouted, screamed and swore at’ and forced to clean senior officers’ cars in his own time, devastating inquest hears
A soldier who lay undiscovered in his barracks for three weeks was subjected to a campaign of bullying so severe that “bullying would be an understatement”, a harrowing inquest heard today.
Lance Corporal Bernard Mongan, 33, was found decomposing in his bedroom at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, on January 23, 2020 – three weeks after he was last seen alive.
In shocking testimony, the inquest heard how the father-of-three was “degraded” by senior officers, with one posting videos of his “humiliations” in a WhatsApp group.
The decorated soldier, who had served in Iraq and was described as a “loveable, likeable, upbeat person”, had been due to start a prestigious new posting just days after his body was discovered.
‘Shouted, screamed and swore at’
Former corporal Stephen Timmerman, who lived in the same accommodation block, delivered damning evidence about L/Cpl Mongan’s treatment at the hands of senior officers.
When asked if the soldier was bullied, Mr Timmerman told North Yorkshire Coroner’s Court: “I would say that was an understatement.
He described how L/Cpl Mongan was:
- “Shouted, screamed and swore at” by senior officers
- Made to clean senior officers’ cars in his own time
- Forced” to do extra runs in his lunch break without being given time to eat
- Given tasks “he shouldn’t have been given”
- Spoken to “like a piece of shit” and “degraded”
Mr Timmerman said L/Cpl Mongan had issues with two sergeants who “undermined” him and “come down on very harshly”, adding that the soldier had been considering filing a service complaint.
“They spoke to Bernie as if he was inconsequential,” he told the hearing.
WhatsApp humiliation videos
In perhaps the most shocking revelation, the inquest heard allegations that one officer had been “posting videos on a WhatsApp group of humiliations of Bernie.
When asked about this, Mr Timmerman said: “I didn’t know about that.”
The court heard how L/Cpl Mongan “wasn’t treated the same way” as other soldiers in their squadron, with Mr Timmerman explaining: “He was given tasks that he shouldn’t have been given, and just the general way he was spoken to by higher ranks.”
Three weeks of horror
The grim discovery of L/Cpl Mongan’s body came after Mr Timmerman noticed an “unusual smell” in the accommodation block after returning from Scotland on January 5.
He had not expected to see L/Cpl Mongan as the soldier was due to be on a detachment with the prestigious 77 Brigade by then.
After days of noticing the smell, Mr Timmerman followed it down L/Cpl Mongan’s corridor on January 22, realizing it was coming from inside his room.
He spoke to a superior officer about getting keys, and the next morning they entered with a civilian staff member to find L/Cpl Mongan’s body lying face down on his bed.
The other rooms on the corridor were occupied but the soldiers were “always away for work”, the inquest heard.
‘Happy and ready to move away’
Tragically, L/Cpl Mongan had been selected for a detachment with 77 Brigade, which was due to start in January 2020 – a posting that had transformed his mood.
There was a noticeable change in him, he was happy, he was ready to move away,” Mr Timmerman told the court.
His room at Catterick was being kept for him while he was away so he could use it for visits with his three daughters.
Assault by fellow soldiers
The inquest heard that L/Cpl Mongan had been badly assaulted by two fellow soldiers at the end of 2018, and a police investigation was apparently still ongoing when he died.
Another witness, Mr Burnard, said L/Cpl Mongan had opened up to him about being bullied and how it had affected his mental health.
“He was a loveable, likeable, upbeat person. There was nothing not to like about Bernie,” Mr Burnard told the hearing.
History of mental health struggles
The court heard that L/Cpl Mongan had tried to kill himself several times and spent time at a recovery centre run by Help For Heroes.
His cause of death remains “unascertained” as decomposition made it difficult for doctors to determine how he died. Paramedics said there was “no evidence of self harm or suicide” at the scene but this could not be ruled out.
‘An absolutely amazing dad’
L/Cpl Mongan’s wife Beth, from whom he was separated but remained close, paid tribute to the soldier in a statement read to the court.
“When I first met Bernie I was struck by his love of music, books and adventure. He had a wicked sense of humour and always tried to make people smile,” she said.
“Bernie was an absolutely amazing dad. Despite our differences as time went on I could never fault him for the love and adoration he showed to our daughters.”
She said one of the things L/Cpl Mongan loved about the Army was travelling to different places, and that was one of the reasons he had joined. “Bernie was the first person to offer help when it was needed,” Mrs Mongan added.
‘So many questions’
L/Cpl Mongan’s mother Mary said in a statement: “It is devastating for all of us that Bernard is no longer with us. His death has left us with so many questions, I still can’t understand it.”
After an Army investigation into L/Cpl Mongan’s death in 2021, Mrs Beth Mongan said her husband “felt bullied” and was “telling people he was afraid.
Military career
L/Cpl Mongan joined the British Army in 2004, served in the Irish Guards and had a tour of duty in Iraq. In 2015, he joined the Royal Signals, 1st Military Intelligence Battalion.
He was 33 years old when he died and had been last seen around December 27, 2019.
Legal fight for answers
Beth Mongan is being represented by the Centre for Military Justice, with director Emma Norton – former head of legal at Liberty – as her solicitor and Jesse Nicholls of Doughty Street Chambers as barrister.
She has raised funds to ensure proper legal representation at the inquest, saying: “I am determined to find out how he died and whether anything could have been done to prevent his death.”
The family is pushing for the Coroner to hold a wide-ranging ‘Article 2 inquest’ which would enable investigation not only of the immediate cause of death, but also the wider circumstances.
The three-week inquest continues.
