Army hero puts his Military Cross on eBay

A former soldier is selling the Military Cross he earned in Afghanistan for £100,000 on 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. But along with other military medals and letters of congratulation, it 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.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said Mr Owens had now left the army. "The Military Cross has been awarded to him and he is free to do with it as he wishes," he added.

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