UDR Memorial

Writing from London, I am pleased and proud to remember the valiant role that the Ulster Defence Regiment  played in Northern Ireland.

The Ulster Defence Regiment memorial group of statues has been unveiled  today in Lisburn, County Antrim, by the Viscount Brookeborough DL.

HM The Queen and the six counties of Northern Ireland were well represented by several Lord-Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants.

It was acknowledged at the ceremony that "It was unfortunate that there were members who did bad things and we're not trying to hide that. But what we would say is that there's almost 50,000 people who didn't do bad things - who did good things, who were ordinary decent people who wanted to do the best they could for their country."

The memorial, by the sculptor John Sherlock, shows members of the regiment operating a vehicle checkpoint.

The Royal Irish Regiment was formed by the amalgamation of the UDR and the Royal Irish Rangers on the 1st July, 1992.