Date set for awarding of military honour to late Mayo Private

THE presentation of a Distinguished Service Medal for the late Private Billy Kedian from Mayo is to take place next month.

The Ballyhaunis man paid the ultimate sacrifice when, aged 21, he died while saving the lives of 14 colleagues while under armed attack from Hezbollah militants in south Lebanon during a tour of duty on May 31, 1999.

A Distinguished Service Medal with honour will be awarded to his family on Saturday, March 8, the Friends of Private Billy Kedian group has confirmed.

This is one of the highest military medals the State can award, with only 29 awarded to date.

As well as the official presentation ceremony, the Friends of Private Billy Kedian will honour the awarding of his medal in his home town at a later date.

The awarding of the medal was confirmed before Christmas.

Private Kedian had been recommended for an award, but a 'time-bound' policy had prohibited this after a certain time has elapsed following a soldier's death.

Under the regulations, a submission should be made within two years of the actual act, however the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence recommended that be reviewed in a report published last year.

Private Kedian's memory was honoured in Ballyhaunis last summer, with the unveiling of a memorial, and plans are progressing to develop an air ambulance base in the locality, named in his honour.