31/10/2012

Cameron Pays Tribute To Channing Day

David Cameron has paid tribute to the Northern Irish soldier who was killed while on duty in Afghanistan last week.

Cpl Channing Day, 27 from Comber, County Down, was an army medic. She was killed along with Cpl David O’Connor, 27, of 40 Commando during a gun battle.

The PM told the House of Commons the country owed "them and all others who have lost their lives a deep debt of gratitude".

"Their courage, their dedication and their sheer professionalism will never be forgotten by our nation and our sincere condolences are with their colleagues, their friends and their families," he said.

The soldiers were killed while on duty in the Helmand province. Initial reports suggested they were the victims of 'friendly fire', but a review has discounted that version of events. The MoD are still investigating.

Cpl Day joined the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Afghanistan on 2 October.

She is the third woman from the UK to have died while serving in Afghanistan since 2001.

Mr Cameron said: "The community in Comber and across Northern Ireland are immensely proud of the service she gave.

"Parliament and the whole of the United Kingdom salute her courage, her bravery and her heroism."

Unionist calls for a military covenant to be set up in Northern Ireland have been acknowledged by David Cameron.

This is a pledge by Westminster to provide support for the armed forces and their families in recognition of their role.

But cross party relations in Northern Ireland would make the concept a difficult one to implement.

(IT)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 December 2005
Cameron visits Northern Ireland
Conservative Party leader David Cameron has said that the IRA must prove paramilitary and criminal activity has ended and has insisted that he will continue to press for changes to fugitives' legislation. Mr Cameron was in Northern Ireland today on his first visit to the province as Conservative party leader.
18 March 2014
NI Contributes To UK Extreme Weather Review
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has announced that his department will be contributing to the national review of the resilience of UK transport networks to extreme weather. The review was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron following the extreme weather conditions experienced in many parts of the UK earlier this year.
03 January 2002
Number killed on Northern Ireland roads drops in 2001
Figures just released show that 147 people were killed on the roads of Northern Ireland in 2001. The figures, which show a slight drop on last year, have been welcomed by the Environment Minister Sam Foster. He said: “Last year 147 people were killed on the roads of Northern Ireland.
29 May 2012
Access To Republic Of Ireland Digital TV Channels Confirmed For Northern Ireland
TV viewers in Northern Ireland will be able to watch TG4 and RTÉ One and Two on Freeview following digital TV switchover, the UK Government confirmed today.
15 February 2013
Bloody Sunday Families Offered £50,000
The families of the victims of Bloody Sunday have been each offered £50,000 compensation, according to the BBC. The same amount has also been offered to people who were injured in the shootings. BBC Northern Ireland has revealed how the offer follows months of discussion between lawyers for the Ministry of Defence and the families' legal teams.