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| March marks home battallions' end | March marks home battallions' end |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A major parade is to be held to mark the disbandment of the Royal Irish Regiment's home service battalions. | A major parade is to be held to mark the disbandment of the Royal Irish Regiment's home service battalions. |
| Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, will attend the ceremony in Belfast. | Several thousand members of the regiment, and its predecessor the UDR, will attend the ceremony in Belfast. |
| The three home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment will be disbanded next July. | The three home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment will be disbanded next July. |
| The event is the Army's official farewell, a tribute to more than 60,000 men and women who have served in the regiment or the UDR since 1970. | The event is the Army's official farewell, a tribute to more than 60,000 men and women who have served in the regiment or the UDR since 1970. |
| The parade will be attended by a range of political figures, current and former members of the regiments, disabled veterans and relatives of many of the 210 soldiers killed by the IRA and other republican paramilitaries. | The parade will be attended by a range of political figures, current and former members of the regiments, disabled veterans and relatives of many of the 210 soldiers killed by the IRA and other republican paramilitaries. |
| The vast majority were killed while they were off-duty, and another 64 were killed after they had left the Army. | The vast majority were killed while they were off-duty, and another 64 were killed after they had left the Army. |
| The home service battalions are being disbanded because of the end of Operation Banner, which is what the Army called its support role for the police during the Troubles. | The home service battalions are being disbanded because of the end of Operation Banner, which is what the Army called its support role for the police during the Troubles. |
| Colonel Mark Campbell, who is among those attending, said today's peaceful society could not have been achieved without the RIR's help. | |
| "Today is deeply significant, it is about bringing an honourable and dignified closure to 36 years of continuous operational service," he said. | |
| "During this time, 60,000 men and women - full-time and part-time - served within the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal irish Homes Service. | |
| "274 serving and ex-members paid the ultimate sacrifice - and many more carry physical and psychological scars." | |
| He added: "There have been many difficult years but our job is now done and we march into history with dignity and with heads held high." |