A SOLDIER serving with the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR), whose family comes from the Republic, has died following an explosion in Afghanistan.
The soldier, in his 20s, died yesterday while on a foot patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province. He served with the 1st Battalion of the RIR, which has been in Afghanistan since the spring and is due to begin returning to Northern Ireland in October. A second soldier and an interpreter were injured in the explosion, which is believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device.
The British ministry of defence has informed the man's family. It was withholding details about the soldier until his family had time to take in their loss. It is understood the soldier's family is from the Republic but now living abroad. He is expected to be named today.
Brig Gen Richard Blanchette, International Security Assistance Force spokesman, said: "This soldier died honourably, helping bring security to Afghanistan."
Recent Irish Timesarticles by Lieut Paddy Bury, serving with the British army in Afghanistan, have referred to the danger to troops of the improvised explosive devices.
