General to receive Distinguished Service Medal

The Irish general who commanded the EU peacekeeping mission in Chad is being awarded with the Distinguished Service Medal.

Lieutenant-General Pat Nash was based in Paris and in charge of thousands of troops for the mission, which was tasked with protecting hundreds of thousands of refugees.

The Limerick-born general, who is retiring from the army, was to be presented with the medal by Defence Minister Willie O'Dea at McKee Barracks in Dublin this afternoon.

Last month he received France's highest honour for valour from President Nicolas Sarkozy.