Ex-Soldier Shot Dead in Iraq

By Antony Stone

A grieving father told today how his dead son had lied about working in Iraq in a bid to stop him worrying.

Former soldier Andrew Harries, 33, was killed yesterday when a gunman opened fire on a convoy of cars he was travelling in close to the city of Mosul.

His shocked father Geoff, of Llwydcoed, Aberdare, said he had believed his son was safe working in neighbouring Kuwait.

“I found out yesterday and it was a complete shock because I had no idea he was there,” said Mr Harries.

“It was apparently kept from me by Andrew and his brother David so that I wouldn’t worry. I am devastated.”

He said his son was a former soldier who had taken part in the first Gulf War in 1991 and also served in Northern Ireland.

“He had since left the Army but was called up as a member of the Territorial Army,” added Mr Harries.

“I had no idea he was out in Iraq they both kept it from me.”

Mr Harries, who was born in Cardiff but lived in Aberdare, was working for a security firm in Iraq and was believed to have been hired to protect Foreign Office staff.

In the period until March 31 this year, the Foreign Office had made payments totalling about £15 million to two private security companies.

The firms provide armed protection for Foreign Office staff and assets in Iraq.

Gunman opened fire on the convoy as it travelled along a stretch of highway between Mosul and Irbil.

The latest shooting follows the death last week of another British security guard working in the country for a private contractor.

Former Royal Marine Brian Tilley, 47, was killed last Friday when a gunman walked into the house where he was staying and opened fire.

Mr Tilley had been due home on Wednesday but had missed his flight and was waiting for another, according to The Times.

He is said to have left the Special Boat Squadron around two years ago and had been based in Baghdad for 14 months.

He set up his own company called Peak after leaving the Royal Marines and was believed to have been working with an Egyptian company on a communications project.

He is also believed to have served in the first Gulf War in 1991.

From: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2949280