RIR Afghanistan Parade Opposed

The Royal Irish Regiment has begun its return to the UK after almost seven months in Afghanistan - but there's also controversy in the North as a return parade there is to be opposed by republicans.

Continuing NI links with the Shropshire-based regiment means that many of the contingent of more than 180 soldiers who arrived on Sunday night at their base at Tern Hill barracks, near Market Drayton, will soon be on route to family and friends in NI.

However, three RIR soldiers died during the tour with mixed emotions over those whose lives were sacrificed.

They were Ranger Aaron McCormick, 22, killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in November 2010; Ranger David Dalzell, 20, killed in February, whose cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, 27, killed by an IED in March.

The soldiers were killed during the deployment in separate incidents.

As the RIR returns, ceremonial parades to mark the homecoming are due to be held next week with a march through both Market Drayton and Shrewsbury.

Others RIR parades are planned for NI later. They will take place in Belfast, Lisburn and Enniskillen, with the first happening on Friday, May 20 in the Co Fermanagh town, followed by Lisburn the following Saturday and Belfast on the Sunday.

Belfast City Council has this week voted to approve the homecoming parade for the Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Guards returning from Afghanistan.

The motion was backed by the DUP, UUP and Alliance parties, but opposed by the SDLP and Sinn Fein. The final vote was 26 to 20.

Protest

A socialist organization that aims to achieve the 'liberation of the people of Ireland', éirígí, will actively oppose the march.

Pádraic Mac Coitir has pledged that the socialist republican party will stage counterdemonstrations.

"The nationalist and republican people of Belfast are sick, sore and tired of having all the trappings of British imperialism flown in their faces.

"We will not stand idly by and watch war criminals being paraded through our streets."

However, Robin Newton, an East Belfast DUP candidate and former Junior Minister in the Assembly said all those who are family, friends and supporters of the RIR will be glad the RIR has returned to the UK.

"The regiment will be enthusiastically welcomed home but for the three families who lost loved ones the return home celebrations will be painful.

"We must pay tribute and never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We need to remember their sacrifices that have been made on our behalf and for freedoms that we often take for granted," he said.

See: RIR Homecoming Parades Planned

See: QUB Students 'Rage Against RIR'

(BMcC/GK)