Family members of a Northern Ireland-based soldier killed in Afghanistan cradled his newborn baby daughter as they said an emotional final farewell at his funeral.

Sergeant Stuart McGrath was killed when a Taliban bomb ripped through his foot patrol in Helmand Province last month. His injuries were so serious that he died before reaching the Army field hospital.

Yesterday, thousands of miles from the heat and horror of Helmand, hundreds of people turned out to pay their last respects to the Co Down-based sergeant who leaves behind a wife Emma and four devastated children — the youngest of whom is barely five months old.

Mourners, including senior military figures, packed into St Colmcille’s Church in Holywood for the hour-long ceremony which included a moving tribute from Mrs McGrath.

The coffin, draped in a Union flag with a regimental belt, hat and military medals placed on top, was carried into the Catholic church by eight pallbearers, all comrades from the 2nd battalion The Rifles. Sgt McGrath’s tearful widow clung to other relatives as she followed closely behind.

Inside, an emotive statement was read to the congregation by an Army officer who served with Sgt McGrath on the Afghan front line, in which Mrs McGrath told of her sorrow and pride.

“Stuart was a beloved husband to me and a fantastic father to our four children; Daniel, Ryan, Dylan and our baby daughter Niamh, whose birth Stuart returned from Afghanistan for in June. I have lost my best friend and soulmate and our children have lost their daddy. He loved us all dearly and he is going to be missed. We will never forget him,” she said.

Sgt McGrath was the 13th soldier from the Ballykinler-based battalion to be killed in action over the past six months — the bloodiest since military operations began in 2001. A further 11 have suffered life changing injuries and 51 were less seriously wounded.

Tragically his funeral came just one day before his Army colleagues were due to fly home.

Speaking outside the church, Major Al Field, who survived a Taliban bomb attack in July, said morale among the men was “fragile”.

He said: “Sgt McGrath was a terribly young and fit looking man. Very bright, articulate and he always had a wry smile on his face. His riflemen loved him because he was outstanding at his job.

“He had a very good reputation and as a mortarman he saved numerous lives by bringing in very accurate fire as and when we required it. He was an outstanding soldier.

“Tragically he was killed when he was out on patrol which is where his love was, being with his riflemen out facing the dangers that faced everyone else. It is utterly tragic that he was caught in that IED (improvised explosive device) blast. Before that we were under enormous pressure. The Taliban would regularly attack the FOB (forward operating base) and I can only imagine what sort of tiredness, fatigue and pressure that he was under.

“Sgt McGrath as an individual showed exemplary bravery that day. There were all sorts of things going on which I can’t go into the detail of but what he did on the ground was extraordinary.

“Morale at the moment in my battalion is very fragile. We have had 13 killed in action and every death is extremely tragic but I think it almost hurts more when there is a family involved and Emma McGrath has four young children and she lives with us in a very close community in Ballykinler and the repercussions of Sgt McGrath’s death have hit everyone extremely hard.”

After the service Sgt McGrath was buried at Clandeboye Cemetery with full military honours. A volley of three shots was fired as the coffin was lowered into the grave and a bugler sounded the Last Post.