Funeral for murdered hero soldier

Guardsman McGee was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery

Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of a decorated Scottish soldier who was fatally stabbed in a street attack in Renfrewshire.

Family, friends and colleagues attended a service at Paisley Town Hall for Scots Guardsman Paul McGee.

The 28-year-old, from Lochwinnoch, died in hospital after being found seriously injured in the town's McConnell Road on 25 October.

Barry McGrory and Ian Wallace, both 28, have been charged with his murder.

Guardsman McGee's commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Lincoln Jopp led tributes at the 30-minute humanist ceremony.

"Paul was a rock-solid guardsman, always the first on the park and with the resolve not to leave until the job was done", he said.

"It wasn't all work, though. He was a good mate, someone to share a beer with and always someone to share a laugh with."

At a time when a 90th-minute score seems to get you the label 'hero', we know, we understand just what Paul did on that frightening and confusing night. He was truly a hero Lieutenant Colonel Lincoln Jopp

Guardsman McGee had been working in an army recruiting office in Scotland at the time of his death.

He was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in July 2008 after risking his life trying to save fellow Guardsman Stephen Ferguson while on a tour of duty in Iraq.

Guardsman Ferguson, 31, of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, originally from Lanarkshire, was injured when his Warrior armoured vehicle slid into a canal while manoeuvring in the dark during a routine patrol near Basra city in December 2007.

Guardsman McGee and other soldiers freed him from the vehicle and gave first aid. He was flown back to the UK for medical treatment but later died from his injuries.

'Quiet hero'

Speaking of Guardsman McGee's bravery, Lt Col Jopp said: "At a time when a 90th-minute score seems to get you the label 'hero', we know, we understand just what Paul did on that frightening and confusing night. He was truly a hero."

He said of Guardsman McGee's death: "We know that Paul died standing up for right. Paul died as he had lived, a quiet hero."

The soldier is understood to have become involved in a dispute between a taxi driver and another driver before he was stabbed.

Mourners at his funeral service gathered outside at 1100 GMT to observe the two-minute Armistice Day silence.