A NEW International Operational Service Medal was awarded to members of the Permanent Defence Force at a special ceremony held at Rosslare Harbour recently.

Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe TD., bestowed the honour upon 60 members of the force in recognition of their service while deployed on overseas missions.

Some 54 of those awarded served on board the L.É. Eithne during her deployment from May to July 2015 to assist Italian authorities with search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean.

Also receiving medals were members of the Permanent Defence Force deployed to Sierra Leone during 2014 / 2015 as part of the international response to the Ebola crises in west Africa.

Speaking during the event, Minister Kehoe said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to be here today to present members of the Permanent Defence Force with the new Defence Forces International Operational Service Medal and, in so doing, to acknowledge the outstanding contribution the men and women of the Permanent Defence Force are making in missions overseas.”

Read more in the Wexford Echo.