A SOLDIER who risked his life to assist an injured comrade while he was serving in Lebanon will be awarded the highest medal for bravery at a special ceremony in Cavan tomorrow.
Private Paul Coventry is tot receive the Military Medal for Gallantry, for "displaying exceptional bravery and compassion" while serving overseas with A Company of the 71st Infantry Battalion.
The presentation, to be made at O'Neill barracks by the Minister for Defence and the Marine, Mr Barrett, will recall the heroism shown on the morning of September 29th, 1992, when armed men attempted to break through an Irish checkpoint at Al Jurn, a village in the centre of the Irish sector of South Lebanon.
After refusing to hand up their weapons or allow their vehicle to be searched, the intruders opened fire on Irish positions with machineguns, rifles and rocket launchers, mostly directed at the machinegun post manned by Private Coleman, who was wounded in the stomach. His comrades tried to go to his aid but were stopped each time by the severity of the attacking fire.
In a final attempt, Private Coventry, ignoring the intense fire and without regard for his own safety, broke cover, ran to the edge of the machinegun post and scaled the wall. He gave first aid to Private Coleman and radioed for medical assistance. As a result, reinforcements arrived and the injured soldier was evacuated by air.
Private Coventry, a native of Ballymun in Dublin, and now serving with the 29 Infantry Battalion in Cavan, is the eighth person to be awarded the medal.