A World War II medal awarded to an Antrim pigeon who brought news of the D-Day landings goes to auction.
Only one Irish resident has ever been awarded the Dickin Medal and that is a pigeon called Paddy. The Dickin Medal is the highest award an animal can receive during a military conflict. This award recognises acts of bravery by an animal during war.
There were many brave men amongst the allied soldiers who landed in Normandy on D-Day in 1944 but only one Irish hero has ever won the Dickin medal for bravery.
The carrier pigeon from Carnlough in County Antrim was used during the war to avoid radio communications. Paddy won the medal for being the first pigeon to cross the channel with news of the D-Day landings. The medal is now to go to auction.
Auctioneer Ian White describes the medal as the equivalent of the animal's Victoria Cross. Only 53 were awarded and this Dickin Medal is the only one awarded to an Irish animal or bird.
Pigeon fanciers would like the medal to remain in Ireland. Pigeon keeper John Doheny says that the medal should be in the National Museum.
The medal is expected to fetch around £8,000 when it goes to auction.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 23 September 1999. The reporter is Orla O'Donnell.
