St Albans man took his own life after losing his job (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans man took his own life after losing his job

5:06pm Wednesday 26th May 2010

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A WELL-RESPECTED member of a football club took his own life while struggling to come to terms with losing his job.

Vincent Rickard, fondly known by family and friends as Vince, died on February 11, this year, after taking a lethal overdose of painkillers.

An inquest at Hatfield Coroner's Court today heard that Mr Rickard, of Wilshere Avenue, St Albans, lost his job in 2009 at the height of the recession.

He had become depressed because he could not find a job which reflected his qualifications or level of experience.

He had previously attempted to take his own life in April 2009 shortly after his redundancy.

The court heard Mr Rickard, 50, devoted much of his time to Hemel Hempstead Town Football Club where he was in charge of the team kit.

The day before he attempted to take his own life Mr Rickard accompanied the squad on a day trip to Cornwall.

But shortly after returning home in the early hours of the morning, Mr Rickard went out again while family members were sleeping.

He was discovered unconscious in his car by a member of the public in Ragged Hall Lane, St Albans, on the morning of February 10.

Paramedics at the scene recovered empty strips of paracetamol tablets and two bottles of wine in the footwell of the vehicle.

Mr Rickard was taken to Watford General Hospital, but died the following day.

A post mortem revealed Mr Rickard had taken a lethal overdose of paracetamol tablets.

There were no traces of alcohol found in Mr Rickard's blood.

Coroner Graham Danbury recorded that Mr Rickard killed himself but said the question of intention was unclear.

He told Mr Rickard's wife and other family members in court today that he was not satisfied it was suicide.

He said: "I'm not convinced that this was a deliberate attempt to end his own life. I don't think that he was in a state to make that decision because he was just so tired and there were other things playing on his mind."

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