Two Soldiers Die In Afghan Blast

Two British servicemen killed in Afghanistan on Saturday have been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Lance Corporal Nigel Moffett, of the Light Dragoons, from Belfast, and Corporal Stephen Bolger, of 1 Para died in an explosion.

John Hutton, Secretary of State for Defence, said the soldiers had "paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, protecting the security of our nation".

The death of Mr Moffett is the second tragedy for the armed forces in Northern Ireland.

Nigel Moffett, 28, came from Ashmount Park in the Holywood Road area of east Belfast and was killed in the blast in Helmand province.

He is understood to have attended school at Knocknagoney Primary School and Royal Belfast Academical Institution before going on to join the Army as a teenager.

He died with Stephen Bolger, of 1 Para whilst on what the Army have described as a "deliberate operation" near Musa Qal'eh.

The men were serving with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson paid tribute to the men.

"We feel a numbness at the loss of these brave and noble soldiers who laid down their lives for their country and the people of Afghanistan. We grieve as the family, loved ones and colleagues grieve," he said.

Local politican, Robin Newton, the East Belfast DUP MLA said the death of another young soldier from the east of the city as he carried out his duty in foreign fields will again bring sadness and distress to the whole of the east Belfast community.

"East Belfast has a long military tradition, service to the nation and pride in that service and this brings with it the high risks and sadly on this occasion the paying of the ultimate sacrifice.

"At this sad time the grieving relatives will receive the support of the east Belfast community as they mourn the death of their family member and a proud young soldier," he said.

Just weeks earlier, an 'adoptive' Belfast man Sean Binnie, a soldier from the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed patrolling with an Afghan National Army.

The 22-year-old, from the Ravenhill Road area - also in east Belfast - had just recently married when he was shot.

About 150 people attended his funeral in Belfast in mid-May.

The 22-year-old soldier was born in Dublin, lived most of his life in Scotland, but had settled in Northern Ireland after marrying in December of last year.

His wife, Amanda, threw a white rose on top of his coffin after it was lowered into a grave at Roselawn Cemetery in Belfast.

See: NI Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

(BMcC)