18/03/2010

Other UK News In Brief

Tragic Soldiers Named

Two soldiers killed in Afghanistan this week have been named by the Ministry of Defence as L/Cpl Scott Hardy and Pte James Grigg from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment. The soldiers died when a bomb exploded in an area north of the Musa Qala district of Helmand province on Tuesday. The number of British military personnel killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 now stands at 275.

Neeson Wife's Death Remembered

It is a year to the day since Co Antrim actor Liam Neeson was struck by tragedy. The Ballymena-born star lost his wife last March 18th after an accident but has since been able to find solace in his work - helped with support from a fellow actor and long-term friend. Neeson - who is making a new version of a classic film set in ancient times - Clash of the Titans - will feature in the epic alongside Ralph Fiennes and $100 million worth of special effects. Fiennes was quickly at Neeson's side after the tragic death of his wife Natasha Richardson. Liam found his fellow actor played a tremendously supportive role after Natasha, 45, died of bleeding in her skull a year ago today, just two days after she fell during a skiing lesson in the Canadian resort of Mont Tremblant. The two had men formed a friendship on the set of Schindler's List in 1993 and will now work together again in Greek epic. The film is just one of a series of major films underway that hark back to the sword and sandals era of Ben Hur and other 'blood in the sands' movies.

Grave News

One of the graves damaged in an shocking attack at a Liverpool cemetery was that of murdered 18-year-old Anthony Walker, Merseyside Police confirmed. Staff at Toxteth Cemetery found several headstones had been pushed over, early on Saturday. Police said there was no evidence Mr Walker's grave was the target of the attack and his family had been told. Eighteen-year-old Anthony was killed in a racist attack in McGoldrick Park in Huyton, Merseyside, in July 2005.

(BMcC/GK)

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Three British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
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