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| Queen attends RIR battalions' end | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Queen is in Northern Ireland to attend a major parade to mark the disbandment of the Royal Irish Regiment's home service battalions. | |
| Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, are attending the ceremony at Balmoral Showgrounds in Belfast. | Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, are attending the ceremony at Balmoral Showgrounds in Belfast. |
| 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. | |
| Some 300 home service soldiers drawn from the Holywood-based 2nd Battalion, the Armagh-based 3rd Battalion, and the Omagh-based 4th Battalion are parading at the showgrounds. | Some 300 home service soldiers drawn from the Holywood-based 2nd Battalion, the Armagh-based 3rd Battalion, and the Omagh-based 4th Battalion are parading at the showgrounds. |
| They are being accompanied by musicians from the band of The Royal Irish Regiment and 100 former UDR soldiers of the Regimental Association. | They are being accompanied by musicians from the band of The Royal Irish Regiment and 100 former UDR soldiers of the Regimental Association. |
| Today is deeply significant, it is about bringing an honourable and dignified closure to 36 years of continuous operational service Colonel Mark Campbell | |
| The parade is being attended by a range of political figures, current and former members of the regiments, disabled veterans and relatives of many of the 210 soldiers killed by the IRA and other republican paramilitaries. | The parade is being attended by a range of political figures, current and former members of the regiments, disabled veterans and relatives of many of the 210 soldiers killed by the IRA and other republican paramilitaries. |
| The Dukle of York, the RIR's colonel-in-chief, is also attending the ceremony. | |
| Guests include Secretary of State Peter Hain, Church of Ireland Primate Lord Eames, UUP peer Lord Trimble, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey and SDLP South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell. | |
| 'Operational service' | |
| The vast majority were killed while they were off-duty, and another 64 were killed after they had left the Army. | The vast majority were killed while they were off-duty, and another 64 were killed after they had left the Army. |
| 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. |
| Colonel Mark Campbell, who is among those attending, said today's peaceful society could not have been achieved without the RIR's help. | Colonel Mark Campbell, who is 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." |
| He added: "There have been many difficult years but our job is now done and we march into history with dignity and with heads held high." | He added: "There have been many difficult years but our job is now done and we march into history with dignity and with heads held high." |