Bullying 'common in jnr army ranks'

AAP

A soSOLDIER found dead in mysterious circumstances belonged to a company where "bullying and bastardisation" were common among the lower ranks, an inquest has heard.

Edward Alexander McBride, 30, was found hanging from a rope at the Energex substation in Brisbane's Everton Park on February 7, 2007.

The cause of death was found to be electrocution.

An inquest into his death in the Brisbane Coroner's Court heard evidence on Tuesday that Private McBride had been the target of bullying in the army.

The inquest was told he had complained to superiors that he had been punched for refusing to drink a cocktail of alcohol from a helmet and had food smeared on his back by a soldier on another occasion.

Former Captain Jamie Burns told the court on Tuesday he was tasked with investigating the two incidents, and a "distressed" Pte McBride had said he felt targeted for refusing to take part in some non-compulsory activities.

Mr Burns told the court after speaking with Pte McBride and at least one other soldier about their experiences in Brisbane-based Alpha Company, he concluded there were problems of bullying among the younger members of that unit.

"I came to the conclusion that there may be a culture of bullying and bastardisation emerging in the junior ranks," he said.

"All of these incidents occurred in the junior ranks - there were no senior officers mentioned in any of the reports."

Mr Burns said he didn't interview the alleged perpetrators because that would have meant revealing Pte McBride as the complainant.

He said he believed Pte McBride requested anonymity because he was worried his complaint might further damage his ability to fit in.

Mr Burns disagreed with suggestions made by some of the younger soldiers that Pte McBride had been suffering from a mental illness because he was quiet and kept to himself.

The inquest continues.