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| Queen awards RIR gallantry cross | Queen awards RIR gallantry cross |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Queen has awarded the Royal Irish Regiment the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross at a ceremony in Belfast. | The Queen has awarded the Royal Irish Regiment the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross at a ceremony in Belfast. |
| The parade at the Balmoral Showgrounds was held to mark the disbandment of the regiment's three home service battalions. | The parade at the Balmoral Showgrounds was held to mark the disbandment of the regiment's three home service battalions. |
| Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, attended the ceremony. | Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, attended the ceremony. |
| "Your contribution to peace and stability in Northern Ireland is unique," she said. | "Your contribution to peace and stability in Northern Ireland is unique," she said. |
| The Queen said the regiment "had never flinched despite suffering extreme personal intimidation". | The Queen said the regiment "had never flinched despite suffering extreme personal intimidation". |
| "Today you have cause to reflect on the fine achievements, while remembering the suffering," she added. | "Today you have cause to reflect on the fine achievements, while remembering the suffering," she added. |
| I was obviously thinking of him today as well, but I was also thinking of everyone else in the regimental family who has lost a loved one over the years Corporal Claire Withers In pictures: RIR parade | I was obviously thinking of him today as well, but I was also thinking of everyone else in the regimental family who has lost a loved one over the years Corporal Claire Withers In pictures: RIR parade |
| The three home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment will be disbanded next July. | The three home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment will be disbanded next July. |
| More than 60,000 men and women have served in the RIR or UDR since 1970. | More than 60,000 men and women have served in the RIR or UDR since 1970. |
| The rain-soaked parade was attended by a range of political figures, current and former members of the regiments, disabled veterans and relatives of many of the 274 soldiers killed by the IRA and other republican paramilitaries. | The rain-soaked parade was attended by a range of political figures, current and former members of the regiments, disabled veterans and relatives of many of the 274 soldiers killed by the IRA and other republican paramilitaries. |
| Some 300 home service soldiers drawn from the Holywood-based 2nd Battalion, the Armagh-based 3rd Battalion, and the Omagh-based 4th Battalion took part in the ceremony at the showgrounds. | |
| They were accompanied by musicians from the band of the Royal Irish Regiment and 100 former UDR soldiers of the Regimental Association. | |
| The Duke of York, the RIR's colonel-in-chief, also attended the ceremony. | The Duke of York, the RIR's colonel-in-chief, also attended the ceremony. |
| Guests included Secretary of State Peter Hain, Church of Ireland Primate Lord Eames, DUP leader Ian Paisley, UUP peer Lord Trimble and Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey. | Guests included Secretary of State Peter Hain, Church of Ireland Primate Lord Eames, DUP leader Ian Paisley, UUP peer Lord Trimble and Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey. |
| Among those who met the Queen were SDLP deputy and South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell, and party colleague Pat McCarthy, the city's lord mayor. | Among those who met the Queen were SDLP deputy and South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell, and party colleague Pat McCarthy, the city's lord mayor. |
| However, they did not attend the subsequent ceremony. | However, they did not attend the subsequent ceremony. |
| The home service battalions are being disbanded because of the end of Operation Banner, which is what the Army called its support role for the police during the Troubles. | The home service battalions are being disbanded because of the end of Operation Banner, which is what the Army called its support role for the police during the Troubles. |
| The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was received by Corporal Claire Withers, whose father - Corporal Trelford Withers - was the last serving RIR soldier to be killed by terrorist action. | The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was received by Corporal Claire Withers, whose father - Corporal Trelford Withers - was the last serving RIR soldier to be killed by terrorist action. |
| Today is deeply significant, it is about bringing an honourable and dignified closure to 36 years of continuous operational service Colonel Mark Campbell History of RIR home battalions | Today is deeply significant, it is about bringing an honourable and dignified closure to 36 years of continuous operational service Colonel Mark Campbell History of RIR home battalions |
| It is the first time the medal - second only to the Victoria Cross - has been awarded to a military unit rather than an individual serviceman. | It is the first time the medal - second only to the Victoria Cross - has been awarded to a military unit rather than an individual serviceman. |
| Trelford Withers, 46, was shot dead on 8 August 1994 as he worked in his butcher's shop in Crossgar, County Down. | Trelford Withers, 46, was shot dead on 8 August 1994 as he worked in his butcher's shop in Crossgar, County Down. |
| Claire Withers, 30, said she thought about her father every day. | Claire Withers, 30, said she thought about her father every day. |
| "I was obviously thinking of him today as well, but I was also thinking of everyone else in the regimental family who has lost a loved one over the years," she said. | "I was obviously thinking of him today as well, but I was also thinking of everyone else in the regimental family who has lost a loved one over the years," she said. |
| 'Peaceful society' | 'Peaceful society' |
| Colonel Mark Campbell, who was among those attending, said today's peaceful society could not have been achieved without the RIR's help. | Colonel Mark Campbell, who was among those attending, said today's peaceful society could not have been achieved without the RIR's help. |
| "Today is deeply significant, it is about bringing an honourable and dignified closure to 36 years of continuous operational service," he said. | "Today is deeply significant, it is about bringing an honourable and dignified closure to 36 years of continuous operational service," he said. |
| "During this time, 60,000 men and women - full-time and part-time - served within the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish Homes Service. | "During this time, 60,000 men and women - full-time and part-time - served within the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish Homes Service. |
| "Two hundred and seventy four serving and ex-members paid the ultimate sacrifice - and many more carry physical and psychological scars." | "Two hundred and seventy four serving and ex-members paid the ultimate sacrifice - and many more carry physical and psychological scars." |
| The vast majority of the 210 soldiers killed were attacked while they were off-duty, and another 64 were killed after they had left the Army. | The vast majority of the 210 soldiers killed were attacked while they were off-duty, and another 64 were killed after they had left the Army. |