Ex-soldier aims to sell Military Cross on eBay

A FORMER soldier is selling his Military Cross, awarded for work in Afghanistan, on auction website eBay.

Ranger Alan Owens, who served with the Royal Irish Regiment, was awarded the prestigious honour for developing "a level of empathy with the local population which no amount of fighting could establish".

Mr Owens, from Portadown, Co Armagh, was presented with the Military Cross in March 2009.

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But it, along with other military medals and letters of congratulations, was yesterday listed for sale on eBay under the title "real british military cross medal".

The listing includes a starting bid of 25,000, with the option to "Buy It Now" for 100,000.

The citation, also included on the listing, said Owens's role was to mentor the Afghan National Army, but his actions showed "leadership and maturity well above that expected of his rank and experience".

Yesterday a Ministry of Defence spokesman said Mr Owens had now left the Army.

The spokesman said: "The Military Cross has been awarded to him and he is free to do with it as he wishes."

Mr Owens said yesterday he did not want to discuss the sale of the medal.

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