Ex-soldier hands back UN medals in protest

A FORMER army commandant-turned peace protester will today hand back his UN medals to highlight what he calls the cowardly actions of the Government in not upholding Ireland’s neutrality.

Edward Horgan, who earlier this year lost a constitutional challenge against the Government’s co-operation with Gulf-bound US forces passing through Shannon, will also return his original 1965 Defence Forces’ commissioning certificate signed by then president Éamon de Valera and Taoiseach Seán Lemass.

Mr Horgan, who will hand over his military honours at Government Buildings as part of a global day of anti-war protest, said he was making the gesture in protest at the loss of neutrality.