A DEPRESSED man who had tried to commit suicide three times hanged himself from the roof of his shed, an inquest heard.

Garry McSorley, 33, was found by his sister and mother after playing a tape over the telephone saying that by the time it ended he would be dead.

East Lancashire Coroner David Smith recorded that Mr McSorley, of Clough Road, Bacup, killed himself on July 13.

The inquest heard that he had been suffering from depression since breaking up with his girlfriend and had started to drink heavily. In November 1995 he was given a four-month suspended prison sentence after he set fire to his home in Heywood.

He moved to Bacup eight weeks prior to his death, was treated in hospital after taking an overdose on June 14 and again when he slit his wrists three days later.

He was also found trying to suffocate himself with exhaust fumes from his car. On July 1 he was arrested by police after reports that he was in the Waterloo Hotel, Bacup, with a length of flex underneath his seat.

A consultant psychologist and social worker interviewed him and offered him a hospital bed but said he was not of such a condition to detain him by force under the Mental Health Act.

On the night of his death he spoke to his sister Lydia Campbell on the telephone.

"He said he loved me and that he was in a hole which he couldn't get out of," she said.

"I told him not to do anything silly."

Mr McSorley played her a pre-recorded tape saying she would not be able to stop him this time.

Lydia and her mother rushed to his house to find the shed door locked with a sign "Don't enter, contact the police" on the door.

He was found hanging from a green washing line tied to the ceiling.

Police tried to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead by paramedics.

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