Northern Ireland

Former Secretary of State Owen Paterson to work for suicide prevention after coroner rules his wife took her own life

Rose Paterson during the opening day of the 2015 Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. Picture by Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Rose Paterson during the opening day of the 2015 Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. Picture by Mike Egerton/PA Wire Rose Paterson during the opening day of the 2015 Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. Picture by Mike Egerton/PA Wire

FORMER Secretary of State Owen Paterson has said he plans to become more involved in suicide prevention after a coroner ruled his wife took her own life.

An inquest heard that Rose Paterson, the chairwoman of Aintree racecourse, was found dead by a police officer during a search of woodland close to her home in the early hours of June 24.

The hearing was told the 63-year-old had made internet searches related to suicide in the weeks before her death.

In a statement to the inquest, Mr Paterson said he made a 999 call from his office after initial searches failed to find his wife, who had not answered four phone calls amid family concerns she had become ill and was unable to summon help.

Mr Paterson, who attended the hearing by video-link, told the coroner that his wife - who also served as a member of The Jockey Club's main board of stewards - had been due to remotely chair an Aintree board meeting on June 24.

She did not leave a note and had made plans to travel overseas to see one of their three adult children.

Mr Paterson, who had been "married for 40 very happy years", said afterwards that the verdict "is absolutely tragic for me, our family and all who knew her".

"Rose will be remembered as a devoted, loving wife, mother and grandmother, as well as a most successful professional in her varied careers in the arts, charity and racing.

"We are still a long way from beginning to come to terms with her death."

He thanked the coroner and West Mercia Police for "the very sensitive manner in which they have handled this tragedy", adding that he is "now horribly aware" that 18 people die by suicide every day in the UK".

"I intend to become more involved in suicide-prevention strategies," he said.

"If I can help to prevent just one family going through the extreme anguish that our family is currently suffering, I will have done something really worthwhile.

"I ask everybody to respect our privacy at this desperately sad time."

Rose Paterson arriving with her husband Owen, then Secretary of State, for a Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, is met by Dean John Mann in 2012. Picture by Arthur Allison
Rose Paterson arriving with her husband Owen, then Secretary of State, for a Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, is met by Dean John Mann in 2012. Picture by Arthur Allison Rose Paterson arriving with her husband Owen, then Secretary of State, for a Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, is met by Dean John Mann in 2012. Picture by Arthur Allison