Soldier Mark Quinsey murder: Sister's anguish at Real IRA items online
Mark Quinsey Funeral
“He said he wasn’t scared, he was so fearless. The Army really changed him, he became so much more confident, especially with girls. Even though we were apart we kept in touch by e-mail and Facebook. He was so funny and naughty in a real cheeky way.
“He was really making the most of his life. He had a lot of friends and they were having a good time in Ireland, going out and enjoying themselves, he was always buying everyone drinks and making sure they had a good time.
“He lived for the day. It’s strange the way things happen but during his last visit home he made sure he went out for the day with all his closest friends, he spent a day in Cheltenham, a day in Blackpool just making the most of life. The day before he died he texted and rang all of his friends to say goodbye because he was going to Afghanistan.
“They say sometimes you know when your time is up.”
Jaime said her brother’s death had left a huge void in the lives of her parents Billie, 60, and Pamela, 47, who today has to cope with the first Mother’s Day since her son’s death. She said her parent’s separation, when they were both young children had brought them closer together, and growing up they enjoyed running and going to the gym.
She added: “Mum and dad are devastated, they are struggling to cope with what has happened.
“My mum has gone away for a few days and my dad is lost, Mark lived with him when he came home, they used to go fishing, running and to the gym together.”
Despite his asthma condition Mark, a former member of Fox Hollies athletics club, was determined to get into the army after he decided not to pursue athletics professionally. He trained hard with the club and his father Billie and achieved his goal at the age of 19. After his basic training he attended the combat engineer course at Minley before qualifying as an electrician at the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham. He served with 38 Engineer Regiment in both Ripon and Northern Ireland and deployed on a number of training exercises throughout the UK.
His was described by his colleagues as a charismatic soldier eager to put his gained trade knowledge to use.
Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis, Commanding Officer 38 Engineer Regiment, said: “Sapper Quinsey was an outwardly calm, resolute and motivated young soldier. A social live wire and hugely popular across the regiment, he was rarely away from the centre of the action.”
Lieutenant Chris Smith, 2 Troop Commander 25 Field Squadron, said: “Sapper Quinsey was a humorous and willing soldier. He had a dry sense of humour and a thick Brummie accent making him stand out from the crowd.
The Prison Service in the Irish Republic declined to comment.
A Prison Service spokesman for Northern Ireland said: “The Northern Ireland Prison Service has a policy which states prisoners can make crafts under supervision during their recreational/educational time while serving their sentence. They are also permitted to make artefacts in their cells, though they are not permitted to have any instruments which may be used as a weapon or assist them with an escape.
“Prisoners are not permitted to produce crafts or artefacts which depict any paramilitary slogans or espouses sectarianism or supports violence.”
Four people are being held in connection with the murders of sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar.
