Rest in peace Stuart Murray. –Matt
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Northern Ireland man caught in blast on his last day in Afghanistan
By Lesley-Anne HenryMonday, 17 August 2009
The heartbroken widow of a Northern Irish man killed in Afghanistan has spoken of her immeasurable loss.
Stuart Murray, a 40-year-old father-of-two from Ballykelly, was working for a private security company when he was caught up in an explosion in the west of the war ravaged country on Saturday.
It is believed the former Royal Fusiliers soldier had been making his way to an airport when his |vehicle convoy was ambushed by insurgents.
He had been returning home after six weeks working as a security manager in a military compound close to the city of Herat.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph from her home at Riverview Cottages in Ballykelly last night, his grief stricken widow, Sheena, said she was “devastated” by his death.
Fighting back tears, Mrs Murray spoke of pride for her husband whom she described as a “dedicated” family man.
“He was the life and soul, very popular, everybody loved him. He was a very dedicated family man who just wanted to provide for his family. We are all just devastated.
“It’s very hard. We are all devastated, but you have to be strong for the children,” she said.
It is thought Mr Murray, who celebrated his 40th birthday only last week, had left Afghanistan a day early hoping to surprise Sheena and their two young children Georgia (8) and Joshua (5).
However, his widow said the exact circumstances surrounding the ambush were still unclear.
She said: “We don’t really know what happened. All we know is that he was travelling and there was an ambush and three people were injured and Stuart was killed. Someone is supposed to be coming to see us to tell us more on Tuesday. He was due to leave on Sunday but he left a day early.”
It was the second time Mr Murray had travelled to Afghanistan for private security work, having been there back in February also for six weeks.
Mrs Murray added: “He was working for Compass as a security manager. He had been out for six weeks at the beginning of the year and had come back in February.
“Obviously I was worried about him going out but he always felt it was safe enough, except for travelling, because he was inside a compound.
“He had been in the Army before we got together. He had been in Bosnia and had done one, maybe two tours of Northern Ireland. He had travelled all over the world with the army.
“He retired in 2006 as a colour sergeant.”
Tributes have also flooded in from public representatives in the Ballykelly area.
SDLP councillor Gerry Mullan, who lives close to the Murray family home, said the local community had been left stunned by the news. “I know the family very well. The family are all devastated,” he said.
“I would like to express my condolences to the family. The whole community is devastated and stunned. We are all deeply affected by it.
“Stuart had been in the Army since he left school at about 16 — he had been in the Army for 21 years and had an exemplary career. It seems so cruel that after living out a boyhood dream and serving for so long, he is killed while out there on a six-week contract. It is very tragic.”
Limavady councillor Leslie Cubitt said Mr Murray was a well known and well respected, hardworking man.
“My sympathies go to his family, if there is anything anyone can do at this sad time, we will.
“He was a good, hardworking man and this is a great tragedy,” he said.
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