Marines killed in Afghanistan named

Two Royal Marines whose deaths brought the Afghanistan and Iraq toll to 300 were named today as Robert McKibben and Neil Dunstan.

The pair died during a patrol in Garmsir district of Southern Helmand, Afghanistan, on Wednesday afternoon.

Their vehicle was hit by an explosive device as they patrolled with Afghan security forces.

Marine McKibben, 32, who was from Westport, County Mayo, in the Irish Republic, was well-known in his home town and a former pupil of Rice College secondary school.

His family had been expecting him home for a visit before Christmas, local priest Father Micheal Mannion said.

"Everyone in the family is in terrible shock. This is really a time when they need space and need privacy. It's a nightmare scenario to lose a son and a brother in such tragic circumstances," he said.

Marine McKibben's parents, Tony and Grainne O'Malley McKibben, were visited by a stream of his school friends yesterday after news of his death.

"His mother said all his friends from school called out to the family home yesterday. They've been a great support, as has all the community," said Fr Mannion.

"He was 28 when he joined the Army and that's what he always wanted to do. He was happy doing that, even though he was in Afghanistan, a very dangerous place.

"His family are very proud of him. He was a lovely, humorous guy and very popular."

Marine McKibben is also survived by his brother, Raymond, and his sisters, Carmel and Rachel.