GRIEVING parents are demanding justice after their soldier son killed himself with a drugs overdose after being bullied at an army barracks.

Nineteen-year-old Andrew Paul Johnston took the overdose when he came home on leave from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, an inquest heard..

Andrew, who joined the army at 17, was found by his mother at the family home in Rockliffe Street, Infirmary, Blackburn.

Coroner Andre Rebello was told at the inquest how Andrew, a father of one, suffered from a series of problems and was beaten by a group of soldiers.

The beating took place at the Queen's Lancashire Regiment barracks in Tidworth. Andrew was kicked and punched, thrown out of bed and suffered broken ribs, bruising and cauliflower ear.

The young infantryman had taken an overdose of paracetamol months before he died and had been to see an Army psychiatrist three times.

His mother Elaine Johnston said: "Andrew had a leg injury but was given permission to go out for a drink.

"When he got back to the barracks a gang of lads decided to beat him up. They threw him out of bed and beat him up." She added: "Andrew was an easy going lad but he totally changed after that incident.

"He would not talk about what happened to him and he became very withdrawn.

"We were told the four lads would be court martialled but we have never heard anything since from the army."

Mrs Johnston discovered Andrew was in hospital after taking an overdose of paracetamol when she phoned him up for a chat.

She said: "I spoke to him in hospital and he wouldn't talk to me about what had happened.

"When he came home he was withdrawn and depressed, he wouldn't go out and he was miles away from all of us."

Andrew took a full packet of painkillers belonging to his mother and was found the following morning.

Dr Duncan Veasey, the army psychiatrist who treated Andrew, said: "Andrew was suffering from adjustment disorder rather than depression.

"He wanted to stay in the army but wanted to change his circumstances. The stress he was suffering was related to the treatment he had received from individuals in the army.

"We were trying to change his unit and change his circumstances because he wanted to stay in the army."

Blackburn coroner Andre Rebello found that Andrew had taken his own life. He said: "Societies throughout the world have always felt shame when a person has tried to take his or her own life.

"Perhaps nowadays we are beginning to realise life is not easy and nobody knows what each person has to cope with.

"Andrew was clearly a courageous person.

"He still wanted to stay in the army and pursue his career."

After the inquest, Elaine and Owen Johnston vowed not to rest until they get justice.

The couple, who have two other sons want a full investigation into Andrew's death.

Mrs Johnston, an auxiliary nurse, said: "I feel very, very angry about what has happened to Andrew.

"There is still a lot of bullying goes on in the army and I want this to come out in the open.

"I want to make sure no other parents will lose their son because of something like this."

She added: "When this first happened the Army told us this would not be swept under the carpet and the people who carried out the beating would be punished.

"We were told there would be a court martial but we have never heard anything else since.

"Just before we went into the inquest we were told that it is unlikely that there will ever be a court martial because the chief witness is dead.

"I want to get to the bottom of what happened and we will not rest until the truth comes out."

Elaine claims her son was taunted by the men who beat him up while he was on duty at the barracks.

Mr Johnston added: "Andrew had permission to go out that night and for some reason these four men took it upon themselves to beat him up for going out while he was on the sick.

"It seems to me there are still a lot of questions which have not been answered properly."

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