THE Army last night expressed sympathy for the family of a teenage soldier who hanged himself at his barracks.

But the parents of Royal Highland Fusilier Stuart Henderson said their son was not fit to be a soldier and should not have been accepted into the Army.

The 18-year-old, who suffered dyslexia and dyspraxia, was found dead in a toilet block at Episkopi Garrison, in Cyprus, on September 23, 2005.

An inquest heard claims that the teenager was bullied while he was at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC), at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, and when he later transferred to his battalion.

Army officials said last night that the ITC had no record of any complaints of bullying while the teenager, from Glasgow, was undergoing basic training.

His family said he struggled with Army life and was regularly punished for failing to iron his uniform or perform basic tasks.

After leaving the ITC and joining up with his battalion, Fus Henderson went absent without leave a month after being deployed.

He sent a message to his girlfriend stating that he wanted to kill himself and told relatives he was being bullied.

The jury deliberated for seven hours before returning a verdict of suicide.

After the inquest at Cheltenham, his parents, John and Catherine Henderson, said in a statement: "We entrusted our son to the Army and we believe he was let down because the system was not sufficiently geared up to cope with suspected vulnerable soldiers."

Because he was 17 at the time he joined up, Fus Henderson's parents had to sign a consent form giving their permission.

He also underwent a one-and-a-half day assessment, conducted at an Army Development and Selection Centre.

However, Mr and Mrs Henderson said their son should never have been passed out by the Army.

"We heard that his ineptitude with his gun made him a danger to himself and others," they said.

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Jennings, chief of staff at the ITC, said: "Fusilier Stuart Henderson successfully completed the six- month combat infantryman's course first time, passing all his training objectives.

"He was then deployed to 1st Battalion the Royal Highland Fusiliers in Cyprus, in April 2005.

"We have no record of any complaints made by Stuart Henderson during the time he spent at Catterick.

"Our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time."

Staff Sergeant Edward Roberts, of the Army's special investigations bureau, told the inquiry that there was no evidence of bullying while the recruit was in Cyprus.