HUGE crowds queued for up to three hours to pay their respects to the former Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, as his coffin lay in the garrison church at the Curragh yesterday.

The removal of the former Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Dermot Earley will take place in Kildare tonight.

Almost 400 troops bound for troubled African state Chad went on parade in Dublin today ahead of joining the tough peace enforcement mission.

Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley have offered their condolences to the family of young soldier Aidan Holly, who died tragically yesterday in Spain.