A young hero

Ranger Aaron McCormick (22) from Macosquin, was killed in an explosion whilst on patrol in the Nad’e Ali area of Helmand. A member of 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, Aaron was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, where he was involved in detecting mines.

Back in September, The Coleraine Times helped Aaron’s mother, Margaret, to launch an appeal to send supplies to troops, like her son, serving in Afghanistan, who wouldn’t be home for Christmas.

Last week, before going on holiday, Margaret said she been ‘delighted’ with the response, and thanked the people of the borough for donating over 300 boxes.

Sadly Margaret is now coming to terms with the tragic death of her brave son, a former Macosquin PS pupil who left Coleraine Inst with ten GCSEs.

The Minister from St Mary’s Parish Church in Macosquin described Aaron as a ‘lad who was full of life’.

Rev Mike Roemmele said that his family were ‘completely devastated’ by his death. “I’ve just come back from seeing the family who arrived home from a holiday this morning and they are obviously completely devastated by the news that they have received,” the minister said on Monday.

“He has sadly only had a couple of months there, and he is the first of the regiment who has died on active service since he and his friends were sent out.”

Lt Col ColinWeir, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, said: “Ranger Aaron McCormick was the epitome of the Irish infantry soldier

- tough, selfless, good-humoured and full of compassion.”

He said his death had left a gap in his ranks “no ordinary man could fill”. “This place is already better for Aaron having been here. “There is a gap in our ranks which no ordinary man could fill. He was the best of his country and we mourn his loss.” A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Eastman, said: “On this day of all days, his loss feels especially poignant and, as with all of our brave, fallen comrades, will be forever marked in our thoughts; he will be sorely missed.”

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Patterson described Aaron’s death as a ‘tragedy beyond words’ for his family and comrades.

First Minister Peter Robinson said: “This death brings home the reality of war. Remembrance Sunday is not about the past, it’s about the present.” Local politicans also sent their condolences to the McCormick family and commended Aaron’s courage.

The Mayor of Coleraine, councillor Norman Hillis, said: “I was very saddened to hear this news; the death of this young hero has cast a pall of grief over his home village of Macosquin.

“Just last month his mother commenced a local campaign to collect and send Christmas gifts to troops in Afghanistan, but today the family are preparing for their son’s final homecoming.

“Brave young men and women in Northern Ireland have given their lives for our freedom and on the day that we remembered them, one more had selflessly given his life. Today I extend my sympathy to his family and his friends and I commend his courage for what he was doing on behalf of this country.”

East Londonderry UUP MLA, David McClarty added: “That this dreadful event should occur on Remembrance Sunday

itself, the very day the nation comes together to mourn and reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of our servicemen and women seems particularly poignant.

“The death of this young local hero will come as a terrible blow to his family, his friends and his comrades, and will devastate the tight-knit Macosquin

community. “

DUP MLA for East Londonderry, Adrian McQuillan, said: “My heartfelt sympathies are with the family. I cannot begin to realise how they must feel at this time.

“This death on Remembrance Sunday, brings to light the realities of war. I will be remembering this young soldier and his family in my prayers.”

DUP MLA, George Robinson added: “Their son died serving his country in far off fields, on the day that is set aside annually for remembering the fallen of other conflicts. Let us not forget the family at this time.”

The Rt Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, said: “As we shared in Acts of Remembrance on Sunday, we were all acutely aware that for the families of many service personnel, their grief is profoundly personal. The thoughts and prayers ofour diocesan family go to Aaron’s parents,

Leslie and Margaret, to his brother and two sisters, to his family circle and his many friends in this time of such enormous loss.”