Shattered Brogden's suicide bid (1 Viewer)

[Scanorama]

From SMH
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/disgraced-brogdens-suicide-bid/2005/08/31/1125302574623.html

John Brogden was rushed to hospital last night after an apparent suicide attempt, one day after he resigned in disgrace as the NSW Opposition Leader.

He was found at his Pittwater electorate office some time before 11pm with self-inflicted stab wounds. He is believed to have been in a drug-and alcohol-induced stupor, and was taken by ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital.

News of Mr Brogden's collapse swept quickly around Macquarie Street, where his colleagues had been involved in a late-night numbers battle to decide who will replace the 36-year-old, who resigned on Monday after admitting to propositioning female journalists and referring to Helena Carr, wife of the former premier, as a mail-order bride.

Mr Brogden's deputy, Barry O'Farrell, immediately put off his push for the leadership in a ballot scheduled for today and rushed to the hospital to support Mr Brogden and his wife, Lucy.

The Herald had called Mr O'Farrell about 11pm to ask him about the numbers, but he replied: "Excuse me if I say I don't care about the leadership at the moment, but I am following an ambulance with John Brogden inside. He has attempted self-harm. It sort of puts things in perspective, doesn't it?"

Mr Brogden's injuries were described as not life-threatening. They required no surgery last night. He was said to be lucid when taken to hospital.

The Herald understands Mr Brogden may have been aware that The Daily Telegraph was to publish allegations today that he was involved in another sexual advance to two female reporters. It led early editions of the paper with the headline: "Brogden's sordid past".

Mr Brogden's collapse could mean that this morning's planned leadership ballot will not go ahead.

Mr O'Farrell and his fellow Liberal MPs Peta Seaton and Andrew Tink left the hospital at 12.10am, but did not elaborate on Mr Brogden's condition.

Earlier yesterday Mr Brogden had returned to work as the member for Pittwater, pledging his commitment to local causes and getting warm support from his party and constituents.

He spent the day in the electorate office at Mona Vale, where some locals were disappointed by his behaviour but fully supported his decision to remain their MP.

"I would have liked him to stay on as leader of the party, but realistically he probably can't," said Lyndee Cook, 50, of Mona Vale. "He has been the member for here a long time and I'm glad he is staying on. Most people here quite like him."

Mr Brogden has been the MP in the blue-ribbon Liberal seat since a 1996 byelection and has improved his winning margin in the past two elections. He has fought hard to try to save Mona Vale Hospital and reserved his only interview after resigning for The Manly Daily, promising to devote his "complete commitment to serve and fight the issues".
Barry O'Farrell and Peta Seaton, and Andrew Tink, left, leaving Royal North Shore Hospital early this morning.Photo: James Brickwood

"Now I have got the chance to come back [as an MP] and recommit myself to the role."

The president of the Pittwater branch, Ross Barlow, said local party members were disappointed by his actions but wanted him to remain their MP.

"Local members were disappointed but they are giving their support back to him," Mr Barlow said. "John is a good operator and a good person in Pittwater. He has done a good job here."

Erin Ricketts, 20, a student from Scotland Island, was glad Mr Brogden remained in Parliament and hoped he would "do good things" for the northern beaches. "If he pinched some girl's arse and said the wrong thing it shouldn't reflect what he does politically," she said.

"This whole thing about social righteousness kind of annoys me. I think everybody is human."

 

[Iron]

As long as they kept him away from the nurses during this times stupor

 

[Rafy]

Brogden attempts suicide; Ballot in doubt.

Broggers has attempted suicide, and the leadership ballot today as a result may not go ahead......

Shattered Brogden's suicide bid
By Robert Wainwright and Jonathan Pearlman


John Brogden was rushed to hospital last night after an apparent suicide attempt, one day after he resigned in disgrace as the NSW Opposition Leader.

He was found at his Pittwater electorate office some time before 11pm with self-inflicted stab wounds. He is believed to have been in a drug-and alcohol-induced stupor, and was taken by ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital.

News of Mr Brogden's collapse swept quickly around Macquarie Street, where his colleagues had been involved in a late-night numbers battle to decide who will replace the 36-year-old, who resigned on Monday after admitting to propositioning female journalists and referring to Helena Carr, wife of the former premier, as a mail-order bride.

Mr Brogden's deputy, Barry O'Farrell, immediately put off his push for the leadership in a ballot scheduled for today and rushed to the hospital to support Mr Brogden and his wife, Lucy.

The Herald had called Mr O'Farrell about 11pm to ask him about the numbers, but he replied: "Excuse me if I say I don't care about the leadership at the moment, but I am following an ambulance with John Brogden inside. He has attempted self-harm. It sort of puts things in perspective, doesn't it?"

Mr Brogden's injuries were described as not life-threatening. They required no surgery last night. He was said to be lucid when taken to hospital.

The Herald understands Mr Brogden may have been aware that The Daily Telegraph was to publish allegations today that he was involved in another sexual advance to two female reporters. It led early editions of the paper with the headline: "Brogden's sordid past".

Mr Brogden's collapse could mean that this morning's planned leadership ballot will not go ahead.

Mr O'Farrell and his fellow Liberal MPs Peta Seaton and Andrew Tink left the hospital at 12.10am, but did not elaborate on Mr Brogden's condition.

 

[absolution*]

oh my. seriously what the fuck.

 

[Götterfunken]

More at: http://news.google.com/news?q=brogden suicide&num=50&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wn

 

[iamsickofyear12]

what a loser.

 

[babydoll_]

That's really sad; I hope he's ok

 

[Cyph]

I'm not sure whether to laugh at him, or take pity on him...

 

[katie_tully]

He didn't attempt suicide. If he wanted to die he could have easily killed himself. Inflicting minor stab wounds to ones self I don't consider as an attempt on ones life, I consider it an attention seeking stunt - he knows he is disgraced, I think he is counting on public sympathy now.

 

[AsyLum]

Can i stab you to test that theory out ?

 

[transcendent]

That wouldn't happen Michael cause I'd be there to protect her.

 

[samuelblayden]

a pity he didn't die you should see what types of things he has said

 

[katie_tully]

Can i stab you to test that theory out ?

That all depends. Are you going to do a Brogden effort on me, coz if you are make sure I've got some reading material so I can kill the time.

 

[AsyLum]

That wouldn't happen Michael cause I'd be there to protect her.

hahah--- I laugh at your pitiful attempts of defence!

That all depends. Are you going to do a Brogden effort on me, coz if you are make sure I've got some reading material so I can kill the time.

Haha, ill do it with a plastic knife, it'll evoke much more of a sympathy vote from the current emos

 

[transcendent]

hahah--- I laugh at your pitiful attempts of defence!

I'll be protecting the future Queen of Australia. We'll see who's sorry in the end!

 

[katie_tully]

I don't think my public approval rate will be terribly high, so can we change monarchy to dictatorship?

 

[transcendent]

I don't have a problem with that.

 

[transcendent]

When did she mention anything about him being Liberal? Good work n00b.

 

[katie_tully]

I'm a Liberal supporter, fool. I disliked him because he did nothing for the Liberal party except make a repeated dick of himself. My stance is that if he honestly wanted to die, he could have easily killed himself. I consider this a publicity stunt, not an attempt on his life.

 

[Scanorama]

What a loser, makes me wonder if he is capable of being a MP.