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18/02/2011
Tragic RIR Soldier Buried
The Royal Irish Regiment soldier who was shot dead in Afghanistan two weeks ago has been buried in Bangor today.
The 20-year-old Ranger from the Co Down seaside town was fatally wounded after he returned to his base in Helmand province.
The Army is carrying out an investigation amid claims that David Dalzell may have been accidentally shot by a colleague as they cleaned their rifles.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral, including members of the Army with soldiers carrying the coffin, draped in the union jack with his beret on top.
Ex soldiers also paid their respects as the cortege drove past the local Royal British Legion.
Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson, MP Lady Sylvia Hermon, Secretary of State Owen Paterson and former RUC and PSNI Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan were among mourners.
They heard the local minister of Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Rev Leach say that David had followed his older brother into the military and that his parents were worried about him going to Afghanistan.
Before he was buried at Clandeboye Cemetery in Bangor, his older brother told of how David was planning for his future and buying a house with his girlfriend.
The Ministry of Defence has still refused to be drawn on the circumstances surrounding the death and a spokeswoman said details of the accident would be heard during an inquest.
It emerged this week that a second NI soldier had been shot accidentally, although the Army has declined to comment on the non-fatal wounding as well.
A total of 357 British forces' personnel and MoD staff have been killed while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001. Of these 313 died as a result of hostile action.
See: Wounded Soldier
The 20-year-old Ranger from the Co Down seaside town was fatally wounded after he returned to his base in Helmand province.
The Army is carrying out an investigation amid claims that David Dalzell may have been accidentally shot by a colleague as they cleaned their rifles.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral, including members of the Army with soldiers carrying the coffin, draped in the union jack with his beret on top.
Ex soldiers also paid their respects as the cortege drove past the local Royal British Legion.
Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson, MP Lady Sylvia Hermon, Secretary of State Owen Paterson and former RUC and PSNI Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan were among mourners.
They heard the local minister of Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Rev Leach say that David had followed his older brother into the military and that his parents were worried about him going to Afghanistan.
Before he was buried at Clandeboye Cemetery in Bangor, his older brother told of how David was planning for his future and buying a house with his girlfriend.
The Ministry of Defence has still refused to be drawn on the circumstances surrounding the death and a spokeswoman said details of the accident would be heard during an inquest.
It emerged this week that a second NI soldier had been shot accidentally, although the Army has declined to comment on the non-fatal wounding as well.
A total of 357 British forces' personnel and MoD staff have been killed while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001. Of these 313 died as a result of hostile action.
See: Wounded Soldier
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
