Royal Irish Regiment a step closer to Market Drayton honour

Hero soldiers who have just returned to the county after seven months in Afghanistan were today a step closer to being granted the freedom of Market Drayton.

Members of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, look set to be given the freedom of Market Drayton by the town council.

A proposal to give the Tern Hill-based troops the civic honour was put forward last night at a meeting of the council's finance and general purposes committee.

Councillor Roger Smith, Mayor of Market Drayton, said today if all the hurdles were cleared the honour could be conferred some time in 2012.

The last of the troops returned to the county earlier this month.

They have since been honoured with homecoming parades in Market Drayton and Shrewsbury.

Three soldiers, Ranger Aaron McCormick, Ranger David Dalzell and Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, died during the tour.

Thousands of people turned out to greet the soldiers as they marched through both towns earlier this week. Church services were held at the end of the parades, where speakers paid their respects to the three members of the battalion who did not return.

Ranger McCormick and Lance Corporal McKee both died in explosions, while Ranger Dalzell's cause of death is still to be confirmed.