Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie MC has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to begin the process of engaging with the Armed Forces Covenant Working Group.
Doug Beattie said:
“Yet again we have buried another one of our servicemen due to suicide. Whilst it may be too early to speculate on the reasons why, it is a matter of record that Lance Corporal Andy McFarland is the fourth soldier who served in Afghanistan, at the same time in the same place, to have taken his own life. Three of the four soldiers came from the Island of Ireland.
“Although the Armed Forces Covenant was established in 2011, the Northern Ireland Executive is yet to engage with its working group. This means vital services that could help our veterans community and our reserves are not being utilised.
“Armed Forces Champions in each of the eleven councils are not resourced or funded and have no accountability. This has led to a disjointed approach towards armed forces issues, particularly those affecting our reserves and those who served in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).
“Earlier this year I was assured that the Veterans and Reserves Mental Health Programme (VRMHP), situated in Chetwyn Barracks near Nottingham, would accept Northern Ireland veterans and reserves without a General Practitioner(GP) referral. However, recently and since the VRMHP moved to Merville Barracks in Colchester, it has become clear that you must have a GP referral before they will accept you on the programme.
“On the Ministry of Defence web site it states - 'since April 2016, in most instances, eligible veterans and reserves will be referred to the most local Defence Community Mental Health (DCMH) to where they live.' However, this seems not to apply to Northern Ireland Veterans who could avail of a DCMH at Aldergrove Station.
“The MOD does not take into account the security situation here in Northern Ireland and the fact that many veterans - especially those from the UDR - do not feel comfortable talking about their military service with their GP or other health care professionals. In fact many would not have their service medical records available purely due to the security situation. These would instead be retained in places like the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow.
“It is time a VRMHP in conjunction with the DCMH was situated in Aldergrove Station with the ability to reach out to either Palace Barracks or Thiepval Barracks. This should be funded by the Westminster Government and deliver mental health provisions to those veterans and reserves in Northern Ireland who need it.
“Suicide from mental health issues affects many corners of our society. Many can seek help without compromising their security but others cannot. It is time our veterans and reserves are given the help and support they need so that they no longer have to rely on charity delivered under the table or through the back door.
“It is incumbent on the Northern Ireland Executive to help deliver for veterans and it can start by engaging with the Armed Forces Covenant Working Group. I will be writing directly to our Health Minister and our Communities Minister to ask them what they will do to help this vulnerable section of our society. Until they take action, our service community will continue to feel like second class veterans compared to their counterparts in Great Britain and overseas.”