Kelly's mother's 'suicide' theory

The inquiry looked into the family traits of suicide

Government scientist Dr David Kelly believed his own mother had committed suicide almost 40 years ago, the Hutton inquiry into his death has heard.

An open verdict was recorded when Margaret Kelly died from bronchopneumonia due to barbiturate poisoning in 1964.

The government scientist told his wife and Ministry of Defence officials he believed his mother had killed herself, the inquiry heard.

Suicide expert Professor Keith Hawton told Lord Hutton depressive illness could be passed down through the generations - but he said there was no evidence of that in Dr Kelly's case.

Vetting interview

Psychiatrist Professor Hawton said Dr Kelly had told his wife Janice that his mother might have killed herself after suffering a stroke.

And in an MoD vetting interview in 1985, Dr Kelly repeated that view.

While the tragedy distressed him, he appeared to ride the period well Friend of Dr Kelly

An extract from that interview said: "Dr Kelly said his mother died by her own hand in 1964, never having remarried."

Dr Kelly had said his mother had suffered from depression for several years before her death and that he agreed with the coroner that the balance of her mind was disturbed when she died.

'Getting through tragedy'

A friend of the scientist, used as his character reference, had also told MoD officials that he was close friends with Dr Kelly partly because their mothers had both committed suicide within a short time of each other.

The man, who was not named, explained Dr Kelly had been engrossed in his studies at Leeds University.

"While the tragedy distressed him, he appeared to ride the period well and at no time when we were together did he display any mental reactions," he said.

The man described his friend as a "well balanced person". The inquest on Dr Kelly's mother recorded an open verdict.

Professor Hawton said Dr Kelly's medical records from 1964 noted "insomnia following death of mother".

'No major illness'

The psychologist said it was uncertain whether these added anything further to the information he already had.

Severe mental illness, such as manic depression or alcoholism, could be transmitted through family generations, he said.

But there was no evidence Dr Kelly "had significant mental illness."

Professor Hawton said personality traits which could raise the risk of suicide could also be passed down through families.

Inquiry counsel James Dingemans QC suggested such characteristics were aggression or impulsiveness and asked whether Dr Kelly had showed any of them.

Professor Hawton replied: "Absolutely not, indeed the reverse."

Insurmountable problems

He said it was also much more uncertain whether a suicide in one family could make a relative have similar attitudes towards suicide.

There was "no research" on the issue, he said, but it was possible that somebody facing insurmountable problems might feel more comfortable with suicide if another family member had taken their own life.

But it was also likely that such people would know about the "terrible impact that suicide usually has on a family, which may serve to decrease the likelihood of suicide in that individual".

Professor Hawton said he stuck with his earlier conclusions that a major factor in Dr Kelly's case was a loss of self esteem from a feeling people had lost trust in him.

He had also been dismayed at being exposed in the media, he said, and had possibly feared he would lose his job altogether.

Dr Kelly's private nature and dislike of sharing problems meant he became even less accessible, added Professor Hawton.