Russia honours Irish Arctic convoy hero

THE Russian government honoured an Irish World War II hero yesterday for saving thousands of lives through his brave service on the treacherous wartime Arctic convoys.

Andrei Nikeryasov, a senior diplomat from the Russian Embassy in Dublin, travelled to Cork’s City Hall to present a special medal, struck by a decree of the president of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, to 93-year-old John Hallahan from Turner’s Cross in the city.

He is one of just three surviving Irish ex-service men who took part in the daring Arctic convoys.