Barracks security criticised

ANTRIM KILLINGS: THE FAMILY of a soldier killed in Northern Ireland last weekend feel more should have been done to protect …

ANTRIM KILLINGS:THE FAMILY of a soldier killed in Northern Ireland last weekend feel more should have been done to protect the military base.

British soldiers Mark Quinsey (23) and Patrick Azimkar (21) were shot dead outside the front gates of Massereene military barracks in Co Antrim on Saturday night. Two other soldiers, as well as two pizza delivery men, were seriously wounded.

Sapper Quinsey’s uncle, James Pratt, told the Birmingham Mail: “What happened was purely a cold-blooded murder, but the army should have done more to protect the troops at the base.

“They should have bulletproof vests to wear when they are outside the gates, and why were there private security guards with handguns on guard instead of soldiers with proper automatic weapons and rifles?”

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His aunt, Shirley Quinsey, added: “It’s terrible the barracks was not better protected. What on earth are the army doing using private security guards instead of their own soldiers to defend the base? The barracks should be where they are safest.”