An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 31 Members of the battalion also deployed to Cyprus during the 1960s. In August 1969 a company was hurriedly despatched from Collins Barracks to the border due to the outbreak of violence in North- ern Ireland. They remained under canvas in Camp Arrow near Letter- kenny until winter. This would be the first of many bor- der deployments, with troops from Cork carrying out patrols and checkpoints, and guarding vital installations, along with many other ATCP duties, such as securing Baldonnel for the visit of British Prime Minister Edward Heath in 1973. On 26 May 1977, Sp Coy was conducting a mortar shoot in the Glen of Imaal when a tragic explosion took place, killing Cpl Gerard O'Donovan (19), Pte Donal Nugent (28), Pte Cornelius Buckley (21), Pte Daniel O'Connell (28) and Pte Anthony Hourihane (19), and seriously wounding Sgt Flannan Hough, Sgt Con O'Sullivan and Pte Denis Sheehan. When the funeral cortege passed through Cork City, flags flew at half mast and citizens lined the streets. Subsequently, a striking memorial was unveiled near St Michael's Garrison Church in Collins Barracks. In March 1978, Israel invaded south Lebanon. In response UNSCR 425 was passed, which called for the formation of UNIFIL. Ireland immediately responded to this request and among the first Irish personnel arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on May 20 were two platoons from 4 Infantry Battalion, as part of B Coy, 43 Inf Bn. After being driven to Haris, they marched to their Coy HQ in Tibnine, and when the IDF withdrew from Bayt Yahoun in June, B Coy occupied that village as well as Ayta az-Zutt and Brachit, and later At-Tiri, which proved to be a vital position for UNIFIL. Tragically, Pte Gerald Moon (18) was killed in a traffic accident near Brachit on 26 August. That October, Cpl Noel Mullins won the battalion's fifth DSM 'for displaying calmness, courage and dedication to duty above the average, when unarmed and isolated from his parent unit and under severe physical and psychological duress, Corporal Mullins gave first aid to a wounded comrade and continued to function effectively as an observer at an isolated observation post [OP Ras] in South Lebanon.' However, tragedy followed on 18 April 1980 when Pte Thomas Barrett (30) was one of two Irish soldiers disarmed and murdered by the DFF, in the wake of the Battle of At-Tiri. By 1983 nearly 1,200 members of the battalion had served on UN peacekeeping missions. The battalion was kept busy at home as well with ongoing ATCP commitments, such as providing a permanent military guard on Mount Gabriel radar station following a terrorist attack in 1982, and the deployment of personnel to Leitrim in December 1983 to assist in the search for kidnapped businessman Don Tidey. The battalion provided security during the visit of US President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and was deployed in support of the operation to recover wreckage and human remains in the wake of the Air India disaster in 1985. Conventional training continued apace, including Exercise 'Madra Liath' in September 1987 when B Coy carried out intensive APC exercises in the north Cork area, supported by a troop of Scor- pions and a 105mm battery. In November 1987 a company was deployed to the border to re- inforce 27 Inf Bn in Operation 'Mallard', an intensive search for PIRA arms dumps. "Within 24 hours the boys of Fairhill, Gurranabraher and Mayfield could talk the hind legs off a smuggled donkey, were calling gardaí by their Christian names, and knew the exact location of the covering forces across the border... all that was missing was the Almaza, the mingy men and the heat." In 1991, Cpl Luke O'Regan won the Defence Forces individual rifle completion, while the 84mm team came second, and the battalion team won the Defence Forces orienteering competition. However, in November that year came the tragic news that Cpl Michael McCarthy (33) from Buttevant had been killed in action by the DFF near At-Tiri, leaving behind a widow and two children. In October 1994 the battalion team were victorious in the sec- ond ever Section-in-Attack Competition. By the end of the nineties the ATCP commitment was easing, while members of the battalion continued to serve with peace- keeping missions including Iran/Iraq, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Liberia, East Timor, and Kosovo. The battalion was also deployed for such wide ranging events such as the 2009 Cork floods, the severe winters of 2009/2010, and the visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama in 2011, pro- viding the guard of honour for Queen Elizabeth's departure from Cork Airport and security for President Obama's visit. However, by July 2012 fears were growing for the future of the battalion amid strong indications that the unit was to be disbanded as part of a reorganisation. These fears were well founded, and on 23 November 2012, 4 Infantry Bat- talion was formally stood down after a special ceremony for its remaining members in Collins Barracks. The unit colours were ceremonially furled under the supervision of Comdt Bob Hurley. At the time, Cork's lord mayor, Councillor John Buttimer, said 4 Inf Bn had made "a magnificent contribution to Cork and Irish life as well as the cause of world peace." 4 Inf Bn win the 1994 Section in Attack competition. 4 Inf Bn members on a Recce Course in October/ November 2011. 4 Inf Bn stand-down parade, November 2012.

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