Erskine Holmes

TODAY WE REMEMBER WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 2 ALBERT DAVID COOPER 🥀🇬🇧 Today marks 36 years since the murder of Warrant Officer Class 2 Albert David Cooper, aged 42, of the 8th (County Tyrone) Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). Albert was a part-time soldier and Sergeant Major who also worked at a garage in Union Street, Cookstown, County Tyrone. On 2nd November 1990, a young woman brought a Vauxhall Astra to the garage, presenting herself as an ordinary customer. Unbeknownst to Albert, the vehicle had been fitted with an IRA booby-trap bomb. When Albert entered the vehicle and engaged the gears, the device detonated, killing him. He was just 42 years old. Albert had served with the Ulster Defence Regiment since its formation in 1970 and had already survived an attempt on his life in 1988. He was off duty, carrying out his ordinary civilian work when he was murdered. The woman who delivered the vehicle, Geraldine Ferrity, was subsequently convicted of his murder in 1993. At her trial, the judge described how she had handed Albert "the keys to oblivion". Ferrity was released in December 1998 under the prisoner-release arrangements associated with the Belfast Agreement, having served approximately eight years in custody... But for Albert's family, there could be no such release from their loss. He was a husband, a soldier, a colleague and a man whose life was taken while simply going about his working day. Albert was the 190th serving member of the Ulster Defence Regiment to be killed during the Troubles. Today, 36 years later, we remember his life, his service and the family and friends who were left behind. Our thoughts are with all those who knew and loved him, and with the families of every serviceman and woman whose lives were taken during the Troubles. Rest in peace, Warrant Officer Class 2 Albert David Cooper. We Will Remember Them. 🥀 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 🇬🇧 LEST WE FORGET 🇬🇧 #WeWillRememberThem #LestWeForget