Body of Lance Corporal Malone was flown to RAF Brize Norton

Lance Corporal Ian Malone from Dublin was one of seven dead British servicemen returned to a military base in the UK last week.

He and another Irish Guard were killed during fighting in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

The 28-year-old soldier's remains will lie in a funeral home before being removed to the Church of the Assumption on the Ballyfermot Road.

Lance Corporal Malone's funeral will take place on Thursday and will be conducted by Ballyfermot Parish Priest Father Joe Kitt.

He will be assisted by Father Andrew Lloyd, senior Roman Catholic Chaplain of the Household Division.

Sniper fire

There will be no firing party, band or flags. Pipers from the Irish Guards and Irish Defence Forces will play outside the church before the service.

A bearer party from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards will bear the coffin from the church in military uniform, accompanied by pipers.

Lance Corporal Malone joined the Irish Guards in 1997

The coffin will not be draped with a national or regimental flag.

In a statement, the British Embassy in Dublin said: "The symbolism of pipers and soldiers from both the FCA (Irish Defence Forces) and Irish Guards reflects Ian's view that he was proud to be Irish and proud to serve in the Irish Guards."

Lance Corporal Malone's family have expressed their thanks for the many messages of condolence and support they have received.

They said they hoped his funeral would be "a simple and dignified occasion".

The other Irish Guard who died in southern Iraq was Piper Christopher Muzvuru, 20, from Gweru, Zimbabwe.

Both members of the Irish Guards were killed by sniper fire while on operations on 6 April.

Lance Corporal Malone joined the Irish Guards in 1997 and served in the United Kingdom, Poland, Oman, Canada, Kosovo and Germany.