Tributes paid to ‘fine colleague’ after death of army corporal

An army corporal has died at the Curragh Training Centre in Co Kildare.

The Defence Forces announced the death in service of Corporal Terry Smyth, 32, “with great sadness”.

Cpl Smyth was found in an unresponsive state by his colleagues at the Curragh Camp on Friday night.

From Co Kildare, he joined Oglaigh na hEireann in 2011 as a recruit in 5 Infantry Battalion.

Cpl Smyth had 13 years of service with the Defence Forces and served in a number of appointments with the 7 Infantry Battalion, 1 Mechanised Infantry Company, the Military College, Defence Forces Physical Education School and the Ordnance Corps to name a few.

He also served on peacekeeping missions overseas in Lebanon and Syria.

The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, said: “Today, Oglaigh na hEireann have lost a fine colleague and a better friend.

“All of us in Oglaigh na hEireann extend our deepest sympathies to the family and the friends of Corporal Terry Smyth and to all those who were lucky enough to have known him, in whatever capacity that it was.

“He will be sorely missed but never forgotten. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.”.