Maguire, Michael
May 12, 2012
The wider Bantry community is mourning the tragic loss of 21 year old Coomhola native and British Army member Michael Maguire, who died afar being hit by a stray bullet during a training exercise in Wales last week.
Michael died on the Castlemartin range in south Wales, which is used by both infantry and armoured army units for live-fire exercises. His death is in under investigation by Dyfed Powys Police and the Health and Safety Executive, although it is being treated as an accident. A full time member of the Royal Irish Regiment's 1st Battalion since May 2010, Michael, who was 6ft 7ins tall, had previously served in Afghanistan.
Originally, he had hoped to serve in the Irish Army but a recruitment freeze put paid to those hopes. "There was no end in sight; they just said it was indefinite' he told the Irish Times, which was covering the influx of Irish into the British Army since the recession began in 2010.
A former member of the Cork U14 football panel, Michael went to school at St Goban's College near Bantry. The youngest son of Michael and Maureen Maguire, he is also survived by two older brothers and a sister.
Neilie O'Leary, the chairman of Coomhola Community Council and St Colum's GAA Club, said Michael was 'one of the nicest young men' he had ever encountered. 'I trained him when St Colum's won the county U14 football championship in 2004 and he was even then a very tall young fella,' he said. 'He was a very witty young man and a pure gentleman.
He will be sorely missed and all our thoughts are with his family.' Those sentiments were echoed by his company commander, Major Richard Bell, who said everyone who knew Michael is 'devastated' by the loss of 'one of our best'.
'Michael was always going to stand out from the crowd', said Major Bell. 'Not only because he stood a towering 6ft 7ins tall, but it because of his vastly cheerful outlook on life, natural charisma and irrepressible good humour.
All of this ensured that he was extremely popular throughout the company and his loss is keenly felt.' Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Colin Weir said Michael was a 'deeply professional and likeable young man' who will be 'sorely missed.'
'All our thoughts and prayers are with Ranger Maguire's family at this difficult time," he added. Neilie O'Leary noted the terrible irony that Michael went to Afghanistan and 'came back unscathed, only to get shot in a training accident.'
The local community, he added is 'numbed and extremely saddened' by the tragic death.
Southern Star, 12th May 2012
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