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| Queen attends RIR battalions' end | Queen attends RIR battalions' end |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Queen has attended a parade to mark the disbandment of the Royal Irish Regiment's home service battalions. | The Queen has attended a parade to mark the disbandment of the Royal Irish Regiment's home service battalions. |
| She awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to the regiment in recognition of its service at a ceremony in Belfast. | She awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to the regiment in recognition of its service at a ceremony in Belfast. |
| Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, attended the ceremony at Balmoral Showgrounds. | Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, attended the ceremony at Balmoral Showgrounds. |
| 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. |
| Some 300 home service soldiers drawn from the Holywood-based 2nd Battalion, the Armagh-based 3rd Battalion, and the Omagh-based 4th Battalion paraded 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 paraded 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. | They were accompanied by musicians from the band of the Royal Irish Regiment and 100 former UDR soldiers of the Regimental Association. |
| 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 210 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 210 soldiers killed by the IRA and other republican paramilitaries. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 'Operational service' | '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. |
| 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. |
| "This award is a great honour for the regiment, and I am extremely proud to have received it from the Queen on behalf of all members of the regiment, past and present." | "This award is a great honour for the regiment, and I am extremely proud to have received it from the Queen on behalf of all members of the regiment, past and present." |
| 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." |
| 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." |