Body of soldier killed in Iraq is brought home

The funeral of the only Irish soldier killed in combat in Iraq will take place tomorrow.

The body of Lance Cpl Ian Malone (28), who was serving in the British army, arrived back in Dublin at noon yesterday on a British Midland flight from Heathrow in London.

He was immediately moved, without ceremony, to a funeral home near his family home in Ballyfermot.

Lance Cpl Malone was shot by a sniper as he emerged from a Warrior armoured vehicle during an advance into the Iraqi city of Basra on April 6th.

Before joining the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards, he had served in the 20th Infantry Battalion of the FCA, a Dublin-based reserve, between 1993 and 1996; the Defence Forces will be represented at the funeral.

Following removal to the church of the Assumption, Ballyfermot Road, this evening, a service will be conducted by Ballyfermot parish priest, Father Joe Kitt.

Father Kitt will be assisted by Father Andrew Lloyd.

The military attaché at the British embassy, Col Paul Cummings, said tomorrow's funeral, at 11 a.m., would be a "simple and dignified family occasion with some limited military participation reflecting Ian's life and tragic death in Iraq".

There would be no firing party, band or flags, he said.

However, pipers from the Irish Guards as well as the Irish Defence Forces will play outside the church before the funeral Mass.

Col Cummings said a bearer party in military uniform from the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards would bear the coffin from the church, accompanied by pipers.

"The coffin will not be draped with a national or regimental flag and the cortege will depart from the church to Palmerstown cemetery via Ballyfermot Avenue, for interment."

After committal, a piper will play the Last Post.

Government permission was necessary for British military to attend in uniform.

Col Cummings said the British embassy and Lance Cpl Malone's family were "especially grateful" to the Government that this was granted.

It allowed the service to reflect, he said, "Ian's view that he was proud to be Irish and proud to serve in the Irish Guards".

Military representation is likely to include a regimental representative from the Irish Guards, as well as from the Defence Forces, the Irish Guards Association, the Royal British Legion, the Royal Naval Association and the RAF Association.

Col Cummings also thought it likely there would be representation from the US embassy.