University of Surrey professor who struggled with home working during pandemic took his own life
Professor Stephen Gourley was a greatly respected academic who missed the genuine buzz of being around students and peers
Professor Stephen Gourley worked in the Maths department at the University of Surrey in Guildford (Image: Mark Lundrigan)
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A much loved University of Surrey professor took his own life after struggling to cope with remote working and being away from his students and peers, an inquest has heard.
Professor Stephen Gourley, 54, had been forced to work from his home in Liss, Hampshire, because of the pandemic.
An inquest into his death heard from his brother who said he d been struggling with the isolation and remote working caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but had not disclosed the extent of his struggles.
Speaking at Portsmouth Coroner s Court yesterday, Mark Gourley said: He [Prof. Gourley] had said that he was struggling with the whole remote working and coronavirus situation.
The 36-year-old from Glengormley, Co Antrim, was reported missing on March 7 2009.
At the time police described him as a vulnerable individual and said he was on medication when he disappeared.
He has never been found.
Mr Gourley had previously been described in court as a “loyalist foot-soldier”.
A previous hearing at Belfast Coroner’s Court was told that police believe he is dead.
On Monday, Belfast Coroner’s Court heard the inquest has been provisionally listed for September 27.
A further preliminary hearing is set to take place on June 1.
Coroner Paddy McGurgan directly addressed Mr Gourley’s brother who watched the hearing via videolink.
Inquest into death of missing loyalist Mark Gourley to be heard in September irishnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from irishnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.