RSL president apologises to grieving mother after accusing her of campaigning to 'assuage guilt' over 'failed' relationship with dead son

The National President of the RSL has apologised to a grieving mother after accusing her of campaigning for a royal commission to "assuage guilt" for a "failed relationship" with her dead son. Key points: In a leaked email, the RSL's national president criticised a mother who has campaigned for a royal commission into veterans' suicides Julie-Ann Finney lost her son two years ago, and has campaigned since She has also been criticised by Liberal senator Jim Molan Julie-Ann Finney has spent years lobbying the federal government to launch the powerful and wide-ranging inquiry to stop the high numbers of current and former defence personnel taking their own lives. In a recent email sent to another RSL member, which the ABC has sighted, RSL president Major-General Greg Melick said those who have publicly supported the grieving mother's high-profile campaign are "the ones responsible for prolonging the risk to veterans". Liberal senator Jim Molan also criticises campaign as 'motherhood' Last week former Army officer turned Liberal senator Jim Molan used his official Facebook account to also attack Ms Finney's campaign, describing her online petition calling for a royal commission as "motherhood".