Family of dead soldier visit area of shooting

THE parents of the British soldier shot dead by an IRA sniper last month yesterday visited the checkpoint in Bessbrook, south Armagh, where their son was killed.

Mrs Rita and Mr John Restorick were in Northern Ireland for the unveiling of a memorial plaque for their son, Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick (23), at the military base in the village.

In a poignant gesture, the couple laid flowers at the checkpoint where their son, a member of the Royal Horse Artillery, was killed by a single bullet, fired at long range by the sniper.

Holding hands, they laid the flowers beside more than 20 other bouquets, left by local residents. Their flowers had the message: "We miss you now and, forever."

Mr and Mrs Restorick had hoped to meet Mrs Lorraine McElroy, the last person to see him alive. She was injured by the ricocheting bullet as she sat in her car at the checkpoint. However, Mrs McElroy, who spoke out strongly against the shooting, has since suffered from post-traumatic stress and the Restoricks did not invite her to the service because they did not want to add to the pressure.

They spent about half an hour at the checkpoint where they entered the guard posts and talked to soldiers on duty. They also spoke to a couple who were near the checkpoint at the time. The family walked up the country lane and viewed the high ground from where the shot was fired. The area has since been screened off to protect soldiers manning the posts.

The Restoricks were accompanied on the visit by their other son, Mark (26), and six other family members, including aunts, uncles and cousins. Their son's commanding officer, Lieut Col Matthew Sykes, and Battery Commander, Maj Mark Vincent, were also with the family at the checkpoint.

Afterwards they attended a memorial service to dedicate the marble monument to their son, which had the message: "We will remember him." The plaque is in a special memorial garden - dedicated to soldiers who have died in south Armagh. Afterwards the Restoricks planted a cherry tree behind the monument.

Helicopters at the base continued to land and take off during the service at the base which is the army's main heliport for the Border area and is said to be the busiest heliport in Europe.