Medal recognises officer’s bravery in raiding drugs yacht

A Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was presented to a naval service officer for “bravery which went above and beyond the call of duty” when he led a boarding party onto a drug-running yacht during atrocious weather.

Minister of state with responsibility for defence, Paul Kehoe, praised the courage of Lieutenant Commander Jamie Cotter for boarding the ship Dances with Waves, which led to the seizure of more than 1.5 tons of cocaine.

The medal is one of only a handful ever presented to a naval service officer.