The Good Conduct Medal ( ga, An Bonn Dea-Iompair) is a
military decoration
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...
awarded by the
Irish Government to members of the
Defence Forces of
Ireland. It was instituted on 16 September 1987 as an award for
enlisted personnel with at least 10 years' continuous service who had shown exemplary conduct.
Appearance
The medal is made of
bronze
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...
. Except for the text, the pattern is identical to that of the older
Service Medal. The
obverse of the medal depicts the figure of
Éire (a personification of Ireland) placing a
laurel wreath on a kneeling soldier's head. To the left are the words ''AN BONN DEA-IOMPAIR'' in Irish, and to the right there is a spray of
laurel. On the reverse the words ''THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL'' are found in raised relief, with the particulars of the recipient engraved in the centre.
[
The medal hangs from a ring attached to a ribbon. The pattern of the ribbon is distinctive; it is orange, with green stripes sloping from the wearer's right to left at an angle of 45°.][
]
Criteria
The medal could be awarded to any eligible non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
or private who was deemed to have carried out meritorious service with good conduct. The medals were presented by the General Officer Commanding at a special annual parade; 60 medals were awarded each year. The medals could be forfeit in the case of misconduct, conviction by a civil court, conviction in the special criminal court, discharge with ignominy, or a sentence resulting in discharge from the Defence Forces.
Only 120 Good Conduct Medals were ever issued, 60 in 1989 and 60 in 1990. The award was suspended after 1990 owing to controversy over the criteria for eligibility.
References
{{Decorations of Ireland
Orders, decorations, and medals of Ireland