Paddy is one of Ireland's last surviving D-Day veterans, having taken part in the Allied troop force which landed at Normandy on 6 June 1944.
He enlisted at 18 years of age and was part of a regiment of French and US commandos who landed and fought on Sword beach on what is regarded as one of the most celebrated days in wartime history.
As shown on RTE News, Paddy was awarded with the honour at the Mercy Hospital in Cork, in recognition for courage and gallantry and for helping in the liberation of France. He said he was both 'honoured and humbled' to receive the medal which was presented to him by the French ambassador Jean Pierre-Thebault.
Paddy retired from Ford in the mid 1980s.
