DUP: High human cost of disbanding battalions

Plans to disband three Northern Ireland-based battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment in a major shake up of security could cost the North’s economy £60m (€88m) every year, it was claimed today.

Democratic Unionist Assembly Member Arlene Foster said while there had been a focus on the implications of the move for the safety and security of communities, it was also becoming clear there would would be a high human cost.