Tributes pour in for murdered Birmingham soldier
Mar 10 2009 By Paul Suart and Christina Savvas
The sister of murdered Birmingham soldier Mark Quinsey has returned from her gap year in Singapore to be with her family.
Sapper Quinsey, from the 38 Engineers Regiment, aged 23, from Highters Heath, was on Saturday night shot dead by terrorists armed with a machine gun.
The murderers, who claim to be from the dissident republican group the Real IRA, ambushed Sapper Quinsey as he went to collect a pizza delivery from outside the front gates of Massereene Barracks in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Sapper Patrick Azimkar, 21, from Wood Green, north London was also killed and four other people, including two pizza delivery men were injured.
Sapper Quinsey’s sister, Jaime, cut short her holiday but was too distressed to talk to the media.
Her friend, Mark Wright, aged 26, from Kings Heath, who picked her up from the airport, said: “Jamie is devastated and it has been a huge shock.
“She has short her travel plans to come home and be with her family. She was going to be away for a year but has returned after just five weeks.
“The family are now pulling together to get through this difficult time.”
It is believed that Sapper Quinsey’s mother, Pamela, has been battling ill health and only came out of hospital this week.
Tributes have poured in for the former Baverstock School pupil who joined the army aged 19.
A spokesman for the school said: “Baverstock School was devastated to learn of the death of Mark and his colleague in Antrim this weekend.
“There are no words to express fully our sadness and sympathy at this time and we simply send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. “Mark was a well respected member of Baverstock and showed great determination in pursuing his chosen career within the army.
“We remember him as hard working and committed.
“Out of respect to his family we do not wish to say anything more at this time. Mark will be in the thoughts and prayers of many people associated with Baverstock.”
Serious questions over the safety and security of British soldiers in Northern Ireland have now been raised.
Armed security guards employed to protect the military base allegedly failed to open fire on the terrorists even as they stood over the injured men and fired further shots.
The murders have been condemned by all political parties involved with the future of Northern Ireland.
Visiting Massereene Barracks, Prime Minster Gordon Brown said: “What I’ve seen this morning is the unity of the people of Northern Ireland, and the unity of the political parties.
“That they are going to continue to work together and they want to send out a message to the world - as I do - that the political process will not and never be shaken.
“In fact, the political process is now unshakeable.”
Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, added: “It was wrong. It was counter-productive. My thoughts are with the families of the two men who were killed and who were injured.
“And you might take some succour from the fact that whoever was involved, they have no support and no strategy and no popular will to back up their actions.”
