This morning, Saturday 8th March 2025, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris TD presented the sisters of Private Billy Kedian from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, with his posthumous Distinguished Service Medal – With Honour, at a very moving and emotional ceremony in Dún Uí Mhaolíosa. ARCO was represented by our President, Major-General Maureen O’Brien DSM (Retd). Renmore is the barracks in Galway where Private Kedian was based with An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe before he deployed overseas with C Company, 85 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL. It was his second tour of overseas duty.
On Monday, 31 May 1999 Billy was killed by shrapnel when a mortar round exploded in post 6-42 Brachit. He was just twenty-one years of age. Two rounds had been fired from the DFF Compound W144. Two other members of the post were wounded.
The Distinguished Service Medal was presented to Pte Kedian’s sisters Ann and Mary after a Defence Forces Medal Board concluded that Private Kedian’s selfless actions during the incident at Post 6-42 in 1999 were deserving of the award.
Billy’s parents, Bill and Doris, have passed away since his death. He was their only son, the youngest of their three children.
The citation reads:
856310 Private William ‘Billy’ Kedian is awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with Honour. 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.
