MEMBERS of the Irish Defence Forces boosted the organisation’s level of expertise when 182 of them were conferred with academic awards from South East Technological University last Friday afternoon.

“As a person who has worn a blue beret and an Irish flag on my sleeve, I object in the strongest possible terms to countries like Russia and leaders like Vladimir Putin having the power to intervene in and potentially prevent Ireland's participation in overseas missions”

Terry was described as “an absolute gem of a person gone way too soon”