A CORONER praised initiatives to tackle the problem of suicide among young men at an inquest into the death of Mark McLennan, a father found dead in his flat.

Acting coroner Michael Singleton said schemes such as the Football League's, aimed at addressing the situation, had his wholehearted support.

"One of the great tragedies is the number of times I have to preside in circumstances such as these," said Mr Singleton.

"This is a matter of considerable public concern. Young men should be given whatever assistance they need to bring them through the darkest moments in a way that can avoid the great grief a situation like this causes."

The inquest heard that Mr McLennan lived alone in a flat in Blackburn Road, Darwen, near to where his ex-partner, Joanne Mellor, and their two sons lived.

Mrs Mellor told the inquest that she and Mark had lived together in Accrington and Rishton for eight years.

She said he had suffered a nervous breakdown in 1993 after discovering that his disabled brother had been abused. She said it was obvious that Mark still had mental problems and told of one occasion when he took the two boys on holiday to Brighton.

The police had taken him off Beachy Head because they thought the boys were in danger and, on another occasion, he had been driving round a roundabout telling the youngsters they were going to live with God.

After that he had been detained in Queens Park Hospital psychiatric unit.

She said Mark had tried to kill himself on other occasions, once fixing a hose pipe to the car exhaust pipe.

The inquest heard that police forced entry to Mr McLennan's flat after Mrs Mellor and her husband raised the alarm. His decomposed body was found on the bed.

A post mortem examination revealed that he had taken a massive overdose of sleeping pills which had been prescribed to him.

Mr Singleton recorded a verdict that Mr McLennan killed himself.

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