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| Funeral for murdered NI soldier | Funeral for murdered NI soldier |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The funeral has been taking place of one of the two soldiers shot dead by the Real IRA in Northern Ireland. | The funeral has been taking place of one of the two soldiers shot dead by the Real IRA in Northern Ireland. |
| Mark Quinsey, 23, was murdered with his colleague Patrick Azimkar as they took delivery of a pizza at Massereene Barracks in Antrim earlier this month. | Mark Quinsey, 23, was murdered with his colleague Patrick Azimkar as they took delivery of a pizza at Massereene Barracks in Antrim earlier this month. |
| Hundreds paid their respects at Sapper Quinsey's funeral at Immanuel Church in Highters Heath in Birmingham. | Hundreds paid their respects at Sapper Quinsey's funeral at Immanuel Church in Highters Heath in Birmingham. |
| Police have been given until the weekend to continue questioning four men in connection with the killings. | Police have been given until the weekend to continue questioning four men in connection with the killings. |
| 'Loved life' | 'Loved life' |
| The family of the soldier, who was murdered hours before he was due to leave for Afghanistan, said on Wednesday he had been "cheated of the opportunity to serve his country". | The family of the soldier, who was murdered hours before he was due to leave for Afghanistan, said on Wednesday he had been "cheated of the opportunity to serve his country". |
| Sapper Quinsey's sister, Jaime Quinsey, said at the service that he was "the most caring brother". | |
| She said: "There were two years between us but I remember how everyone thought we were twins." | |
| "I remember the first time you (tried) on your uniform. | |
| Hundreds gathered to pay their respects in Birmingham | |
| "You looked a proper proud soldier and that's when I realised my little brother was a man. | |
| "Dad hasn't just lost a son, he's lost his best friend too". | |
| In a statement read by his commanding officer on the family's behalf before the funeral, Sapper Quinsey was described as "fun and popular" with a "brilliant sense of humour". | |
| The family statement, read by Lt Col Roger Lewis, commanding officer of 38 Engineer Regiment, said: "Mark was right at the very heart of our family and we thought he'd be there forever. | The family statement, read by Lt Col Roger Lewis, commanding officer of 38 Engineer Regiment, said: "Mark was right at the very heart of our family and we thought he'd be there forever. |
| "It is so hard for us to understand why this happened to him. | "It is so hard for us to understand why this happened to him. |
| "Mark loved life. He was fun, popular and had a brilliant sense of humour, attracting a large circle of friends who he was very close to. | "Mark loved life. He was fun, popular and had a brilliant sense of humour, attracting a large circle of friends who he was very close to. |
| "He was looking forward to going to Afghanistan - he wanted to prove what he was made of. | "He was looking forward to going to Afghanistan - he wanted to prove what he was made of. |
| "As a family, we've been very touched by the outpouring of sympathy. | "As a family, we've been very touched by the outpouring of sympathy. |
| "We have 23 years of wonderful memories with Mark but we will miss him every day of the rest of our lives." | "We have 23 years of wonderful memories with Mark but we will miss him every day of the rest of our lives." |
| Lt Col Lewis told the funeral service that Sapper Quinsey was "charismatic and affable" and an "immensely keen" young soldier. | Lt Col Lewis told the funeral service that Sapper Quinsey was "charismatic and affable" and an "immensely keen" young soldier. |
| He added that he was "calm, resolute and motivated". | He added that he was "calm, resolute and motivated". |
| Sapper Quinsey, of 25 Field Squadron, 38 Engineer Regiment, was shot dead on 7 March. | Sapper Quinsey, of 25 Field Squadron, 38 Engineer Regiment, was shot dead on 7 March. |