Posthumous honour presented to family of Moate soldier Paddy Kelly

The businessman whose life may have been saved by the brave actions of Gardai and Army members responding to his kidnapping 29 years ago has spoken of "the supreme sacrifice" made by Moate's Private Paddy Kelly when he was killed during the incident. Don Tidey was in Athlone's Custume Barracks on Monday to attend the ceremony at which the Military Star medal - a prestigious honour given to personnel killed in action - was awarded to Moate's Private Paddy Kelly. "Medals are medals, but this is a lovely recognition for a man who did his duty, bravely," said Mr Tidey. In late 1983, the then-supermarket boss was kidnapped by a gang consisting of members of the Provisional IRA in Derrada Woods. Army and Garda personnel searching for the kidnappers were attacked without warning on December 16. The gang opened fire and threw a grenade, killing Pte Kelly and trainee Garda Gary Sheehan. The ceremony on Monday was an emotional occasion attended by Pte Kelly's four sons: David, Michael, Patrick and serving member of the Defence Forces, Corporal Andrew Kelly. Corporal Kelly said he decided to join the Army as a result of his father's service. "When I was a very young age I asked my mother who was my father and what did he do," he recalled. "She said, 'your father was a soldier. He died saving a man's life. Your father was a hero.' Straight away, I wanted to join the Army. I wanted to be a soldier and I'm very happy to be here today in Custume Barracks." Defence Minister Alan Shatter commented that the rain which fell during Monday morning's ceremony was perhaps appropriate given the nature of the sacrifice being honoured. However, he said there must have been happy and sad aspects to the occasion for the family. "(It's) happy in that the late Private Kelly's ultimate sacrifice in the service of the State is being formally acknowledged, but sad also in that the occasion is bound to bring back what must be difficult memories from a difficult time in their lives," said the Minister. There was another layer of poignancy to the occasion in the fact that Pte Kelly's wife Catherine had passed away just two years ago. Corporal Andrew Kelly said he was saddened that he, and not his mother, had collected the Military Star medal from Minister Shatter. Pte Kelly's eldest son, David, said his mother "was very grief-stricken" as a result of her husband's death. "It's very sad that she's not here today. But we are together as a family, we're very close and we look to the positives: what our father represented, his good personality traits, his positive, can-do attitude... that inspires us to carry on in our lives as best we can." David said his father died in "horrific circumstances" but the family was so proud of his bravery and courage. Last year David confronted Sinn Féin presidential candidate Martin McGuinness, seeking the names of those who had killed his father. "It looks like we will have to accept and try and draw a line under the fact that no one will be prosecuted for (the killing)," said David on Monday. "There is nothing we can do about that, so we have to try and move on and reflect on the positive things about my father's legacy." Minister Shatter stated that Pte Kelly was the first soldier to be killed in this country since the civil war. The event on Monday represented the first time the Military Star medal was awarded to a soldier who lost his life on home soil. Up until earlier this year, the medal could only be awarded in respect of military service that occurred outside the State. Minister Shatter stated that the occasion at Custume Barracks was very significant. "I think it's an acknowledgement by the State of the sacrifice made by Private Kelly... It's particularly poignant in the context of the dreadful events in Derrada Wood. Without the joint operations of the Defence Forces and An Garda Siochana, Mr Don Tidey may have lost his life. "There was great bravery shown by everyone involved and unfortunately there was great tragedy, with two deaths," said the Minister.