Soldier Mark Quinsey murder: Fellow Real IRA victim laid to rest
THE commanding officer of a soldier shot dead by the Real IRA outside his Northern Ireland barracks told how the young man pulled his friend to the ground and saved his life before he was killed.
Sapper Patrick Azimkar, 21, of 38 Engineer Regiment died in a hail of more than 60 bullets as gunmen launched an attack at the gates of Massereene Barracks in Antrim, Northern Ireland, on March 7.
Sapper Mark Quinsey, 23, from Highters Heath, Birmingham, also died in the attack and two other servicemen and two pizza delivery men were injured.
Speaking before the funeral of Sapper Azimkar the commanding officer of his regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis told how Sapper Marc Fitzpatrick only survived thanks to the “selfless” actions of his best friend.
“He told me two days ago, ‘If it wasn’t for Pat I would not even be here – despite the chaos, he was the one who pulled me to the ground and saved my life’.”
He added: “On the evening of March 7 we suffered a blow of incalculable sadness.”
He said the two men were, along with the rest of their regiment, “preparing with quiet determination” to deploy to Afghanistan that night.
“During training for our deployment to Afghanistan, Sapper Azimkar showed his true grit, determination and long-term promise.”
