Mayo solider killed in Lebanon honoured with unveiling of commemorative plaque

BALLYHAUNIS-based representative Cllr Alma Gallagher has called on the Defence Forces to officially honour the heroic deeds of the late Private Billy after a memorial in his memory was unveiled near his home this afternoon

On 31 May 1999, Pte Billy Kedian died while on service with C Coy 85 Infantry Battalion United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on behalf of the Irish State.

When Post 6-42 came under fire, the 20-year-old voluntarily risked his own personal safety in order to ensure the security and safety of his comrades.

With total disregard for his own safety, he went about ensuring the safety of the other soldiers by waking them and directing them to the bunkers. 

He was then killed after being hit with shrapnel from an 81mm mortar round. His actions saved the lives of eleven men. 

Mayo County Council passed a motion in 2023 to allocate funds for the erection of a commemorative plaque, which was unveiled outside Ballyhaunis, today by Minister Jennifer Carroll-McNeill, who attended on behalf of the Minister for Defence. 

To date the Defence Forces have failed to honour his deed, which has been a huge disappointment to his family and comrades.

In recognition of his exceptional bravery and actions, his Company Commander and Defence Force colleagues submitted a recommendation for the posthumous award of an Bonn Míleata Calmachta (Military Medal for Gallantry).

Addressing a large gathering at the ceremony, which included the Kedian family, elected representatives and former comrades of Pte Kedian, Cllr Gallagher said that those serving in the defence forces ‘do not receive near enough recognition for their bravery’. 

Several members of the Kedian family, elected representatives and former comrades of Pte Kedian, were in attendance for today’s ceremony. 

“I know at first hand, the loss, the tragedy, the trauma and the generational loss that’s left in families. Around the world military organisations commemorate acts of bravery by their soldiers. We must do the same,” Cllr Gallagher said. 

“And as a proud country we cannot be behind the door in honouring our heroes like Private Billy Kedian. And I look forward to the next step, when Billy will be awarded the Military Medal of Gallantry.

“I am asking you, Minister Carroll-McNeill, to call upon the Defence Forces Chief of Staff to reconsider the policy that the award of medals aren’t time-bound. As proud Irish people…we should be at the forefront in honouring the bravery of our peacekeepers serving on foreign soil.”

Cllr Gallagher described Pte Kedian as ‘true gentleman’ and ‘a man of very words at times, yet with a razor-sharp sense of humour who would light up any room’.

The gathering was also addressed by Gerry O'Boyle, a friend of Pte Kedian, who had been at the forefront in initiating the construction and funding of the memorial. 

In 2019, the Minister for Defence denied that Pte Kedian’s case be investigated by a Military Board on the grounds that it fell outside the two-year timeline for submission in accordance with the current Defence Force Regulation (DFR A9).

A request to review the case of Pte Billy Kedian and approve an exemption to the two-year timeline of submission (DFR A9) was sent to the Minister for Defence.

The Minister deferred the request, to the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, who has yet to respond. 

The family and comrades of Pte Billy Kedian and his colleagues requested that the Minister consider that any award for a Medal for Gallantry should be evaluated on the merits of the deed or act of the individuals concerned. 

It is their contention that any such case submitted for review should be considered by a Military Board and not discarded based on a timeline provision for submission restricted to two years. 

Speaking to The Mayo News afterwards, Minister Jennifer Carroll-McNeill praised the work of the community in delivering the memorial.

“I can’t believe what the community has done for this family and for Private Kedian, but I also can’t believe his sacrifice on behalf of his comrades and on behalf of the Irish state and I think the Irish state, as we grow and support our defence forces, this will be an important part of who we recognise the contribution that people make,” the Fine Gael minister said. 

Minister Carroll-McNeill described the two-year limit on submissions for the Medal of Gallantry as ‘very archaic’. 

Further coverage of the unveiling of the memorial to Private Billy Kedian will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.