Exclusive Brethren Suicide - Andrew James Hackett

Andrew James Hackett died age 26 years on 12th / 13th June, 1995.

He died because he could not live with the forced separation from his children, a vicious edict from his local Exclusive Brethren. He tried to reach out for help, but it was in the early 1990's and in the days before many ex-Exclusive Brethren knew each other or had formed support groups as they have today.

Nearing desperation, Andrew called someone he knew many miles away in Melbourne. Warren McAlpin tells of his feelings of helplessness when he received the call:

"In 1994 Andrew Hackett phoned me in Melbourne from Newcastle, Maitland NSW and asked for help. I had no money and he had lived about 12 hours away so I couldn't drop everything and hitch-hike to Maitland N.S.W."

"His words still ring in my ears today, so many years later:"

"The Brethren won't let me see my little twins on their birthday."

"I couldn't do anything but listen and pray for the best for him."

"He took his own life in the following weeks."

Today Andrew lies near his parents in East Maitland Cemetery, near Newcastle NSW, Australia. In a final insult to his memory, no date of his passing is shown on his grave, just his age - the heartlessness of the Exclusive Brethren engraved in stone.