Back Row L-R: Pte Stuart Dunne (Cavan), Pte Cormac O'Rourke (Wexford), Pte Dylan Colgan (Curraghaleen), Pte Gary Reynolds (Roscommon Town), Pte John Costello (Longford), Pte Daniel Conlon (Athlone), Pte Richard Harris (Rochfortbridge) Middle Row L-R: Pte Aidian Browne (Monksland), Cpl Tony Gray (Cav

Good news for local military families

Deirdre Verney

Published: Fri 3 Apr 2020, 2:12 PM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2020, 3:20 PM

There is good news for military families today, with confirmation from the Defence Forces that 39 Athlone members of the 60th Infantry group currently serving in the Golan Heights, Syria, are scheduled to return home on Saturday.

Reports in the national media, yesterday indicated that the troops would not be coming home as scheduled, with suggestions they may have been forced to stay for a further three months.

However, a spokesperson for the Defence Forces confirmed to the Westmeath Independent that the 60th Infantry Group due to rotate on April 4 will do so as planned and will be coming home on Saturday.

In a change from usual practices, families are reminded because of the current COVID-19 restrictions not to come to the airport to welcome home their loved ones. All of the members will be transported back to their home barracks via military transport.

The 60th Infantry Group were deployed to Syria as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) last October.

Numbering 130 in total, 39 from Athlone, the troops were part of a Quick Reaction Force which is a small, highly mobile and flexible force that can respond to any request made by the Force Commander within 15 minutes.

Their requests ranged from the evacuation of UN personnel from UN positions for various emergency situations to routine patrols.