RIP David Rathband
Iain Dale pays tribute to PC David Rathband, who took his own life last night.
1 Mar 2012, 02:03
David Rathband
At about 1.20am this morning, I was giving final approval to the new Biteback Publishing website when I happened to look at Twitter. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. David Rathband had taken his own life. It was as if Raoul Moat had risen from his grave and taken his final victim. Why did it affect me? Because Biteback published his book, Tango 190 last July. Since that time David has gone through various traumas. It was clear from his tweets that he was in a bad place. He was arrested over a domestic incident with his wife Kath. He ended up going to Australia to spend time with his brother, and had only just returned to this country. We'll never know what went through his mind, but the whole country will be mourning the loss of a very brave man, who didn't deserve what life dealt out to him.
I know Tony Horne, who wrote the book with David, is devastated by the news, and how his wife and children will cope, it is impossible to imagine.
The author
Iain Dale
Iain Dale is publisher of Total Politics, MD of Biteback Publishing & presenter of LBC's evening show.
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Comments (3)
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What David Rathband went through in the line of duty no officer should have to go through, the actions of Moat have cost him his life, and robbed his family in thr process. The courage and determination he showed to the outside world is an inspiration to others, though meanwhile it takes a long time to adjust on a physical and emotional level trying to pick up the pieces of your shattered life, this impacts on the whole family, which causes more concequences. Although David and his wife seperated, even if you are the one who walked away, you do not just stop caring about that person though you are not with them, but if as in David's case you areon the receiving end, you can find yourself in a bad place, and it is very hard to see through the maze.
RIP David Rathband
01/03/2012 05:16Hell isn't just where Moat has gone. It's what he put the people he left behind through as well.
Rest in peace, PC Rathband. No more harm can come to you now.
01/03/2012 09:56Terrible news, and an awful footnote to what was a truly horrendous episode.
What concerns me most about this is the thought that there could well be many, many other victims of crime out there who are going through what PC Rathband went through. Here we had a proud, brave, strong and successful man who had his life ripped apart.
Could anything else have been done to help him? The trauma he suffered clearly did not stop when Moat died and the case was closed. If anything it seems as time went on things just got worse for him. I would hate to think there are others out there suffering in a similar way.
RIP David Rathband and thoughts have to be with his family
01/03/2012 11:52