The soldier who would not die

Sunday May 25, 2003 23:45

by clodagh

RIR officer Richard Vance was convicted of sexual assault and attempted buggery of an RIR soldier in the same battalion as Paul Cochrane at Drumadd barracks Armagh. The event happened on the night of Paul's funeral, 3rd August 2001, Paul died on the 30th July 2001. The victim was asked to leave by Col Collins and sent home to Canterbury.

In the weeks before Paul's death, Paul had written to Col Collins for help, and requesting leave to go home. Paul was ill with a serious ear infection. Despite evidence from the army's own doctors who confirmed and diagnosed Paul's illness, Paul was not granted sick leave. Instead Paul was moved to a room beneath Drumadd barracks helicopter pad. One of the noisiest areas of the base. On the night of his death, Paul phoned his mother crying, unable to speak for sobbing, clearly very distressed and told his mother 'he was very frightened'. Paul's mother began crying on hearing the distress of her son. This phonecall was cut short, and Paul's mother tried ringing him back to no avail. Paul's father then phoned him on his mobile and was able to speak to him, Paul seemed calmer, and told him he would phone his mother back soon, the phonecall was abruptly ended by the sound of a gun shot, and Paul spoke no more. By the time the Cochranes and emergency services got to Drumadd barracks Paul was dead, with a gunshot wound to his head. The Cochranes would like to know, if their son was off duty sick, and unfit for duty, why was he in possesion of a firearm and where did he get the firearm from?. Why was Paul so frightened?, what was going on at Drumadd barracks? Paul left a note saying that 'he had been driven into this situation by 'bad men'', the note named the RIR officers who were bullying him. The Cochranes appealed personally to Col Collins to keep these men away from Paul's funeral, yet despite this heartfelt request Col Collins allowed these men to attend Paul's funeral. This act of gross thoughtless arrogance added insult to injury for the Cochranes and was a final bitter blow to Paul's memory. That those officers who drove Paul to his death, that tormented Paul throughout his short life, should have the last laugh and be able to follow Paul to his graveside to torment Paul during his last shared moments with his family on this earth is sadistic and evil. Paul was a fit, strong, healthy, talented young man but something happened at Drumadd barracks that reduced him to a quivering sobbing wreck. Paul had no peace during his short life, How can Col Collins live in peace with his conscience now. Paul may be dead, but the battle to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death is far from dead.