Memorial service for murdered Birmingham soldier Sapper Mark Quinsey

Mar 12 2009 by Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail

COMRADES of murdered Birmingham soldier Sapper Mark Quinsey were today paying their respects at a regimental memorial service in Northern Ireland.

Soldiers from the 38 Engineer Regiment and 19 Light Brigade were mourning the loss of Sapper Quinsey at Massereene Barracks, in Antrim, where he was killed five days ago.

Sapper Quinsey, aged 23, of the 38 Engineers Regiment, and from Highters Heath, died alongside Sapper Patrick Azimkar, aged 21, from north London when Real IRA terrorists fired 60 bullets at them in 30 seconds.

They had been collecting a pizza delivery from the front gates of the barracks, just hours before they were due to fly out to Afghanistan.

Neither man was armed but civilian sentries on duty at the barracks failed to fire a shot even as the murderers stood over their bodies and aimed a final volley at them.

Later police constable Stephen Carrroll was murdered in Craigavon, Co Armagh by a rival dissident group, the Continuity IRA.

It is now feared that the terrorists may be planning further attacks.

Sapper Quinsey’s body is expected to be flown back to Birmingham tomorrow.