Trooper Patrick Mullins

Trooper Patrick Mullins

Mr. Ned Mullins, Father of Trooper Pat Mullins, died on the 30th.November 1960 aged 51. Catherine Mullins wife of Ned, and mother of Pat Mullins died on the 10th.December 1998 aged 88. Both are buried in the Graveyard attached to St. Joseph’s Church in Kilbehenny.
Ar dheis De go raibh. (May they sit at the right hand of God).

Shortly before her death Catherine Mullins was presented with the Military Star, which was posthumously awarded to her son, in recognition of his supreme sacrifice.

Trooper Patrick Mullins' Medals

The Military Star Medal.
The Military Star is awarded posthumously to members of the Defence Forces killed in hostile circumstances while on military service overseas. The award of the Military Star is made on the recommendation of a Military Medals Board convened by the Chief of Staff. At a ceremony in Collins Barracks, Dublin on th November 1998, a total of thirty-six Military Stars were presented by the Minister for Defence, to the next-of-kin personnel killed in hostilities in the Congo and the Middle East. The Military Star is in the shape of an eight-pointed star, which resembles the Defence Forces Cap Badge - common to all Services in the Defence Forces. The figure in the centre is Cú Chulainn - this symbolises the warrior who is killed in action or dies from his wounds. A Laurel Wreath to commemorate the dead surrounds the central figure of Cú Chulainn. The ribbon colours are black and purple - traditionally associated with the dead and mourning - with the Irish National Colours in the centre. The ribbon is held in place by a suspension bar with the word 'Remembrance' inscribed on it. The Service Number, Name, Date of Death of the deceased and Mission Area are engraved on the back of the Star.

ONUC The Congo Medal.
ONUC was established initially in July 1960 to ensure the withdrawal of Belgian forces, to assist the Government in maintaining law and order, and to provide technical assistance. The function of ONUC was subsequently modified to include maintaining the territorial integrity and the political independence of the Congo, preventing the occurrence of civil war, and securing the removal from the Congo of all foreign military, paramilitary and advisory personnel not under the United Nations Command, and all mercenaries.

On completion of the mandate, the Mission was withdrawn in June 1964. Originally, the medal awarded for service in the Congo was a UN blue and white ribbon with a bar indicating Congo service. In 1963 it was decided that a distinctive ribbon should be issued. The ribbon subsequently awarded carries a broad centre band of green, symbolic of hope, which was thought to be appropriate for a young nation, and also to represent the Congo Basin. Two narrow white bands, representing the UN Mission, flank the centre band and at either end are two bars of UN blue. To qualify for the medal three months of service in the Mission were required.

Map of the Congo