'It's an insult to Billy and all the Irish soldiers who died' - retired sergeant's anger as UN to withdraw peacekeepers from Lebanon

"Private Billy Kedian alerted his comrades and ensured they were sheltered from incoming fire, thus saving 11 lives, before he was killed by shrapnel from a missile"

"A former Irish Army sergeant whose comrade was killed in Lebanon has said the decision of the UN Security Council to pull troops out of the country is an insult to the memory of peacekeepers who died there."

"Private Billy Kedian (21), from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, was killed in a missile strike on the Irish base in Brashit, south Lebanon, on May 31, 1999."

Private Billy Kedian alerted comrades and ensured they were sheltered from incoming fire, saving 11 lives before being killed by shrapnel from a missile. Kedian was 21 and from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo. The fatal strike occurred on the Irish base in Brashit, south Lebanon, on May 31, 1999. The incident took place during UN peacekeeping operations in south Lebanon. The UN Security Council decided to pull troops out of the country. That withdrawal decision has been described as an insult to the memory of peacekeepers who died in Lebanon. The action and sacrifice underline the risks faced by peacekeepers in volatile conflict zones.

Read at Independent