City man sells his father’s war medals

A CITY man whose father received two war medals – one for fighting with Michael Collins in the War of Independence and another for serving the Free State Army – is selling the war memorabilia which he believes could fetch in the region of €20,000. Tony Sexton of Woodquay is the son of the late Patrick 'Padla’ Sexton who, according to records, joined the Old IRA in 1917 and played a major role in defending the Clare village of Mullagh from being burned by the Black and Tans in 1920, for which he was later awarded a 'Service (1917- 1921) Medal Without Bar’.Sexton followed Michael Collins after the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1922 and enlisted with the Defence Forces of Free State and was based in Ennis, Strokestown and Renmore Barracks until 1946. During this time he was awarded a 'Free State Medal With Two Bars’ for services to his country which his son Tony says are in good condition and are accompanied by official documentation.Tony has painstakingly researched the history of his father through the Army archives at Renmore and Dublin while the Minister of Defence Willie O’Dea has also forwarded letters containing official documentation about his service to his country.He obtained his father’s...