VIDEO: Complete funeral of veteran Brett Savage

The funeral takes place today in Newtownards for a Royal Irish veteran who died at the weekend.
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The service for Brett Savage takes place 1pm today at Clark’s undertakers, Court Street, Newtownards and can be watched live and later HERE.

Mr Savage, who was in his early thirties, joined the Royal Irish Regiment at 16.

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In 2006 he survived the notorious siege of Musa Qala in Afghanistan, where he and a handful of colleagues came under sustained attack for 55 days from some 300 members of the Taliban.

Brett Savage pictured at the  Beyond the Battlefield office in Newtownards.
Picture By: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.Brett Savage pictured at the  Beyond the Battlefield office in Newtownards.
Picture By: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.
Brett Savage pictured at the Beyond the Battlefield office in Newtownards. Picture By: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

He later began suffering from serious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Robert McCartney of Beyond the Battlefield supported Brett after he was medically discharged from the army.

A veteran and qualified counsellor, he has supported some 9,000 veterans since starting the veterans mental health charity 12 years ago. But aside from one exception, this month has been the first time they have lost any veterans they were supporting.

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However, within the past four weeks he knows five veterans who have taken their lives.

“The five deaths are being widely discussed on social media and I am deeply concerned that they could spark further suicides,” he said.

“What I would say to anybody thinking about it is, don’t. You don’t need to face this alone and suffer in silence. Call us.”

He added: “I think Covid is a big part of it. Veterans are not used to being stuck in their homes, where many of them may be alone.”

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If you are affected by these issues you can call the following helplines:

:: Beyond the Battlefield tel 028 91 228 389 or 07964574156

:: Combat Stress 0800 138 1619

:: Lifeline NI 0808 808 8000

:: The Samaritans 116123.

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