Robinson sends condolences to family of soldier killed in Afghanistan

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has offered his condolences to the family of a soldier from the North who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

The serviceman from first Battalion - The Royal Irish Regiment - died when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on patrol in the southern Helmand Province yesterday morning.

Stormont Assembly member David McClarty knows the young man's family who are from the County Derry village of Macosquin.

Mr McClarty said: "I believe the community will rally round the family. You cannot even begin to imagine the pain they are going through."