Defence Forces to hold medal ceremony for Cork for personnel who served in Med

The Department of Defence has said it will hold a medal ceremony in Cork for navy personnel who served in the Mediterranean, amid criticism of its decision to hold the first such event in Rosslare instead of the Haulbowline naval base.

The Defence Forces International Operational Medal is a new award created to recognise the role serving personnel have played when deployed overseas on humanitarian missions.

Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe announced the creation of the medal last week during a visit to personnel in Sardinia — and revealed the first medal ceremony would be in Rosslare, in his Wexford constituency.