Part-time RIR soldiers win case

The Royal Irish Regiment was formed in 1992

More than 1,000 part-time soldiers who took a case against the Ministry of Defence over pension and redundancy rights have won £6.7m in compensation.

The soldiers were stood down when the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment were disbanded.

While all full-time members received redundancy payments plus a pension, 1,100 part-timers got a special one-off payment of £14,000.

They said this was discrimination and took the MOD to an industrial tribunal.

The case never went through the court system and a settlement was reached between the soldiers and the Ministry of Defence.

It is understood the claimants will receive payments of between £1,500 and £50,000, depending on past earnings and length of service.

The Royal Irish Regiment was formed in July 1992 with the merging of the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish Rangers.