RIP Michael McNicholas #atos #dwp

THE grieving family of a 34-year-old man found dead claim Government pressure to get a job may have led him to kill himself.

The body of Michael McNicholas was found by a passer-by at Goldenhill Golf Course at the weekend following a 14-year battle against booze.

But Michael’s family say he had been sober for three months and was attempting to turn his life around.

They say he felt pressurised after being told he needed to undergo a medical assessment to see if he was fit enough for work.

Mum Sue McNicholas, aged 56, of Maureen Avenue, Sandyford, said: “We had a lovely Christmas together and were completely in shock when we found out what had happened. He had even bought lottery tickets for that evening.”

Dad Mick, aged 60, said: “Michael was trying to turn his life around. He just wanted to be normal. It doesn’t add up – he was doing so well.”

It is understood that father-of-one Michael, of Sandy Road, Sandyford, first received a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) three months ago asking him to attend a medical assessment to see if he was fit for work.

He then received another medical assessment form on Friday.

Sue added: “Michael asked me for help with his forms and with the support of the doctor and the support group Aquarius the assessment was put off.

“But on December 27, Michael received another 10-page medical form. This upset him so much and piled the pressure on when he was trying to sort himself out.

“I feel that the letter played a very big part in Michael’s suicide. He took his life the next morning. He said to his house-mate that he was going out for a walk and didn’t come back.

“He wasn’t well enough to be back in work. He had asked the Jobcentre if he could do a course in plastering but they said no as it would mean he wouldn’t be available to take work.

“But he would have been able to manage a course and it would have given him some focus and helped him recover. Then he would have been happy to go back to work. He wanted a job – he wanted to change his life.

“We love Michael so much and had no time to say goodbye.”

Staffordshire Police are not treating Michael’s death as suspicious. A post-mortem examination is still to be carried out to find out how he died.

Sister Dawn, aged 38, of Colclough Lane, Goldenhill, said: “Michael was really looking to the future and had everything to live for. He was a lovely guy, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Sister Michelle, aged 37, of Newcastle, said: “This was the first Christmas when Michael had been sober in a long time and even when we were having a social drink he didn’t join in. He was doing really well so it’s really hard to believe that this has happened.”

Asked about the family’s claims, a DWP spokesman said: “Our condolences go to Mr McNicholas’s family.

“We are committed to helping thousands of people move from benefits and back into work if they are capable while giving unconditional support to those who need it.

“We spend more than £13 billion on sickness and incapacity benefits for almost 2.5 million people of working age and we need to make sure that support goes to those who need it most.”

IF YOU feel you may want to take your own life, or are concerned about someone else, talk to the Samaritans on 08457 909090, Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline on 0808 800 2234 or your GP.