Latest news with #Fusilier
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Lee Rigby's mum backs Mirror campaign for monument to honour terror survivors
Lyn Rigby joined the growing band of survivors and families calling for a physical touchstone, saying: 'It is vital so people can keep on showing how much they care for the suffering of their fellow countrymen and women' The mum of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has backed our campaign for a memorial to honour all UK victims of terror. Lyn Rigby joined the growing band of survivors, grieving families and campaigners in calling for a physical touchstone. Proud Fusilier soldier Lee, 25, was murdered by two Islamic extremists in an act of terror that shocked the world exactly 12 years ago today. Last night Lyn, 58, said: "I back the Mirror's campaign 100 percent. One of my biggest fears has always been that Lee will be forgotten – but a national memorial [would] mean he and all the other victims will be honoured forever. "Every victim should be remembered as part of our nation's history – it's the very least we owe to the innocent who fall prey to heartless terrorist acts and their loved ones who suffer as a result. I know I would be so proud to honour Lee at such a place and it would bring me and so many others much comfort and healing." The Mirror-backed Place to Remember Campaign is calling on the government to erect a monument honouring all those affected by terror attacks in the UK. We are also demanding victims' calls for a National Remembrance Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism be urgently actioned. In March, security minister Dan Jarvis launched a consultation for a day of remembrance, which is due to close next month, but this does not include plans for a shrine. Lyn, who is also mum to four girls, said having a focal point for families to share their grief is "vital." She continued: "When Lee was murdered I became a member of a club that no one wants to join – I felt I had nowhere to run to [and] nowhere to bury my pain and my grief. "A memorial like this would bring those who are suffering together. It [would] bond people without words because everyone knows how fellow sufferers are feeling [and] how to bring comfort to one another. It's also so much more than just a place for victims and their families – it's a permanent reminder to the world what terrible suffering terror brings. It says we will never forget those who perished at the hands of evil and those who continue to suffer." Lee, who left behind his two-year-old son and devoted fiancée, was murdered by two Islamist extremists as he walked home to his army barracks in Woolwich, South East London, on May 22, 2013. He was off-duty and in civilian clothes when British-born Muslim converts Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale picked him out at random. They mowed him down from behind in a speeding car before hacking him to death in the street with knives and meat cleavers in front of hundreds of terrified onlookers. They tried to justify their actions as revenge for the deaths of fellow Muslims in wars such as Afghanistan. Lyn spent the anniversary on Thursday at home with family - where they have a little memorial in the garden - sharing memories and raising a glass to their beloved Lee. She added: "I wouldn't wish the suffering we have been through as a family on another single human being. But along with my amazing family, what got me through was knowing that people, often strangers, cared about what happened to Lee. "That's why a shrine is vital so people can keep on showing how much they care for the suffering of their fellow countrymen and women. It would stand as a symbolic and defiant gesture where, as a country, we could unite to stand against terror. Let's show that as a country we really do care."
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
'Old school' British Army corporal lost his temper and had a knife fight with a junior soldier - over his messy room
An 'old school' British Army corporal has been jailed after losing his temper and having a knife fight with a junior soldier over his messy room. Corporal Geraint Evans-Dymond, 35, flipped over a bunk bed which had been bolted to the floor, before telling Fusilier Hezron Harper to 'sort out your admin'. The row escalated into a knife fight which saw both servicemen hauled before a court martial. Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, heard the incident took place late at night on May 28 last year when the two soldiers - both members of the first battalion of the Royal Welsh regiment - were in Germany following a deployment to Estonia. Prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Felicity Bryson said that there was 'some very minimal provocation' of Cpl Evans-Dymond because of 'failures to maintain the accommodation to the standard directed'. After flipping the bunk bed, he directed his anger at his 34-year-old junior colleague, grabbing him at chest height and telling him to sort out his 'f***ing admin' before pushing him to the wall. The prosecutor said: 'Cpl Dymond had flipped Fus Jones's bunk bed over - this took quite some strength, they were bolted to the floor.' The fusilier retaliated some time afterwards by stabbing him with a utility tool - similar to a Swiss army knife - and then biting him. Cpl Evans-Dymond pleaded guilty to a disciplinary charge of using threatening behaviour, and Fus Harper pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and attempted grievous bodily harm. Sentencing the pair, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England said: 'In May of 2024, your unit was in transit accommodation in Germany on return from Estonia. 'Many of the unit, including Fus Harper, had returned about a week before you, Corporal Evans-Dymond, returned. 'But when you returned to the room, you were unhappy with the bedspace allocation. 'You ousted a junior fusilier, who took issue with that. You got angry, flipping the bunk over and shouting. 'You then targeted your anger at Fus Harper, telling him his admin was poor and then frankly lost your temper, threatening him with violence, pushing him to the wall and shouting in his face.' This was the 'catalyst' for Fus Harper's retaliation, the court heard. The judge continued: 'You're described as having an old-school style of leadership - not to everyone's taste, direct and forceful. 'There's not always time for a please or a thank you, and sometimes directness is a way to get things done, particularly if soldiers are being lazy or lacking discipline. 'But flipping beds and attacking soldiers should be a thing of the distant past.' The judge added: 'Behaviour such as flipping beds and pushing soldiers up against the wall has no place in the modern army.' Addressing Fus Harper, Judge England said: 'You ran around to the entrance of the building, intent on confronting Cpl Evans-Dymond and having opened the blade of your garber you ran at Cpl Evans-Dymond trying to stab him.' Fus Harper later told his troop commander that it was 'his natural reaction to fight back'. He was pulled away from Cpl Evans-Dymond by two sergeants. The judge noted that Cpl Evans-Dymond, who has served in the army for 15 years, faced a court martial in 2020 for grievous bodily harm against a colleague in an accommodation-type environment. He was sentenced to a period of detention for this - she said that he should have learnt from this that 'violence is not the answer to a frustrating situation'. Defending Corporal Evans-Dymond, Libby Anderson said he was 'sleep deprived' following a 'long train journey'. She said his wife had also recently suffered a miscarriage. 'The army has changed, and it has perhaps taken Corporal Dymond some time after promotion to realise that,' she said. 'He cannot compose himself now as a corporal perhaps as corporals did when he was a private soldier - but he does now recognise that.' Ms Anderson added that at the time of his previous offence, Corporal Evans-Dymond's father had recently passed away. He is currently on crutches because he is recovering from surgery on his ankle for an unrelated injury. Defending Fus Harper, Fiona Edington said that he is from Grenada, and he hasn't been able to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK because of the pending outcome of the proceedings. She said he experienced a 'red mist', and his actions were 'spontaneous and stupid'. 'He regrets that he even reacted to [Corporal Evans-Dymond's] bullying behaviour,' she said. 'In my submission, he was being bullied by someone who should've known better.' Cpl Evans-Dymond was demoted by one rank and sentenced to four months' service detention. Fus Harper was dismissed from the army and was sentenced to 26 months' imprisonment for the grievous bodily harm and 20 weeks for the assault, to be served concurrently.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- The Independent
Convicted terrorist who glorified Lee Rigby murder back behind bars
A convicted terrorist who glorified the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby on YouTube has been sent back to prison for four-and-a-half years. Royal Barnes, 34, was convicted in March 2014 of inciting terrorism overseas and three counts of transmitting a terrorist publication following the murder of the British soldier in Woolwich, south London the year before. He was originally jailed for five years and four months after making and posting videos on YouTube showing footage of the scene and calling for British-based Muslims to fight the government. He was released in September 2016 but recalled to prison eight months later for breaching his licence when he was found to have an iPhone which he failed to notify officers about. He was released again in May 2019 and was subject to a number of notification requirements. On 26 October 2023, he was arrested for breaching the notification requirements relating to his use of a vehicle, mobile phone and email account. He was also found to have been involved in fraudulent activity related to possession of bank cards. He pleaded guilty to the charges last October and was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday by Judge Angela Rafferty KC. Barnes was handed three-and-a-half years in prison for the two breaches and a further 12 months, to be served consecutively, for fraud. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'Monitoring those convicted of terrorism-related crimes is a key part of our work to ensure that they are not posing any further risk to the public. 'Terrorism offenders are subject to strict notification requirements once they have completed their sentences, and we are proactive in making sure they are sticking to these. 'As this case shows we will not hesitate to take action should we identify any breaches and it should also send a message that there are serious consequences for those who do so.'
