Mayo soldier Billy Kedian honoured for displaying ‘courage, leadership and bravery’ 

A Mayo man who lost his life while directing other soldiers to safety has been honoured with a Distinguished Service Medal by the state. 

Private Billy Kedian, who hailed from Ballyhaunis, has been honoured for his actions more than 25 years after he died while serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon. 

Private Kedian became the first Army private ever to receive the Distinguished Service Medal when it was presented to his family on his behalf by Táinaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, at a ceremony in Renmore barracks in Galway. 

Speaking at the medal presentation, the Tánaiste said Private Kedian exemplified ‘duty, professionalism and a willingness to accept responsibility’ while serving. 

In the early hours of May 31 1999, hostile fire broke out close to UNP 6-42, at which Private Kedian was stationed during a peacekeeping mission with UNIFIL.

Despite ‘great personal risk’, the off-duty Private Kedian alerted fellow peacekeepers to the situation and directed them to safety. His actions saved the lives of eleven soldiers. 

At 5am, Private Kedian was killed by an 81-millimetre mortar round. He was 21 years old. 

“Were it not for the courage, bravery and the highest level of selfless devotion to duty, Private Kedian would likely have been the first of his Company to reach the protection of the bunker in the early hours of 31 May 1999,” Minister Simon Harris said. 

“Instead, Private Kedian put himself in harm’s way for the protection of others. He did this without hesitation, ensuring the safety of his comrades, while sacrificing his own safety, embodying the highest values of our Defence Forces.”

The Tánaiste added that “through the award of this Distinguished Service Medal, this young soldier will never be forgotten.  He, too, will always retain the gratitude of the Irish Government, the women and men of Óglaigh na hÉireann, and above all, the Irish people.”

Private Kedian’s sisters, Ann Lenehan and Mary Fitzmaurice, received the Distinguished Service Medal on behalf of their late brother. 

Private Kedian enlisted in the Irish Defence Forces on December 30 1996. He embarked on his second peacekeeping mission to UNIFIL in April 1999.

His actions were never formally honoured by the Irish state after his death. As a result, a campaign was started to have Private Kedian officially honoured for his bravery. Last year, a monument in his memory was unveiled near his home outside Ballyhaunis. 

Last December, the Defence Forces’ Medals Board reviewed his case and concluded that his actions were deserving of him being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. 

The medal is awarded to individuals whose actions display bravery, courage, leadership, resource, or devotion to duty.

Citation ‘856310 Private William ‘Billy’ Kedian is awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with Honour’ reads: “For distinguished service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), for displaying courage, bravery and leadership. On 31 May 1999, Pte Kedian, despite great personal risk and while his Post was under fire, alerted fellow Peacekeepers to the dangerous situation and directed them to a place of safety. His selfless actions and devotion to duty placed him in danger and resulted in his death.”

Company Sergeant Paul Duffy at the First Battalion in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa who served with Private Kedian on the peacekeeping mission in May 1999, said that Private Kedian was a soldier who ‘led by example’.