Ranger who died fighting Taliban repatriated to UK

The body of a Royal Irish Regiment soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan is due to be repatriated back to the UK Thursday 17th March.

Lance Corporal Stephen McKee (27) from Banbridge died after his armoured vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device during an operation to disrupt the Taliban last Wednesday.

His remains are expected to be flown into RAF Lyneham later this afternoon.

L/Cpl McKee's widow Carley, his parents Heather and Bobby and other relatives are due to make the journey from their home to the Wiltshire airbase for a private ceremony.

They are also expected to join hundreds of people lining the streets of Wootton Bassett as the cortege passes through the market town on its way to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.