Member's statement: Private James Cummings and Private Fred Starrett

Member's statement by Mr Brian Kingston on 24 February 2025.

MLA: Mr Brian Kingston
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 24 February 2025
Type: Member's statement
Business: Members' Statements
Heading: Private James Cummings and Private Fred Starrett
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4813408

Text

I rise to pay tribute to UDR privates James Cummings and Fred Starrett who, on this date 37 years ago, while performing their duty to protect life and property in Belfast city centre as soldiers in the Ulster Defence Regiment, were murdered by the IRA. In the late evening of that day, 24 February 1988, Cummings and Starrett attended to lock the security gate in Royal Avenue, to protect the city centre from the IRA bombing campaign, which aimed to destroy the economy of Belfast. The IRA had hidden a bomb behind a hoarding beside the security barrier covering Castle Court shopping centre, which was under construction at that time. When it detonated, Private James Cummings was killed instantly, and Private Fred Starrett was taken to hospital where he died several hours later. Private Cummings, from Rathcoole in Newtownabbey, had been a member of the regiment for two years. Private Starrett, from east Belfast, had joined the regiment just four months previously. They were both just 22 years old. The cowardly IRA members who planned and carried out that bombing had just one intention, which was to take the lives of members of the security forces who were trying to protect society from the evil of terrorism. Had passing members of the public also been killed or seriously injured, the terrorists would have taken no responsibility for that. Cummings and Starrett would have known that, every day and every night, they would be prime targets for terrorists, yet they bravely stepped forward to join the UDR and serve in the British Army to protect society. Both men were members of Orange lodges in Ballymacarrett No 6 district in east Belfast. Two days ago, on Saturday morning, I joined hundreds of others in attending the annual service of remembrance for Cummings and Starrett, which was held in Royal Avenue and organised by the Ulster Defenders of the Realm LOL 710. I spoke to family members in attendance, who said that it means a great deal to them that their sacrifice is not forgotten and that their names are honoured. We will continue to remember them with honour. Those who planned and carried out that and other acts of terrorism during the Troubles were the enemies of democracy. In fact, they achieved nothing other than to take thousands of lives and to devastate thousands of others who were injured or bereaved. There was always an alternative to terrorism. Indeed, the Assembly is part of that; it is called peaceful and democratic politics and respect for the rule of law and other people's right to life. That is what the people of Northern Ireland expect Members of the House to be committed to, and not to the shameful glorification of the evil terrorism of the past.

463 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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