Looking for information - Private Maurice O'Connell, 2/24th Regt -Zulu War medal recipient

I'm a new poster here on the forum, although since joining last year I have visited from time to time to learn a little more about the history of the Zulu war, and looking for more information on my great-great grandfather, who served for the duration of the war as a Private in the 2nd Battalion 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.

His name was Pte Maurice O'Connell, an Irishman from County Kerry, who served with the regiment between 1864 and 1886. He went on to become a Sergeant and served in Gibraltar and India before retiring and passing away in Kent in 1924 aged 81.

My great-grandmother was his eldest daughter. As a child, I knew her (she died at the age of 98 in 1979) - and growing up I was fortunate to hear a few Zulu war stories involving Maurice recounted by family members. She was born at sea as her mother was en route to the regiment's garrison in India in 1881. I have her baptismal certificate from this time signed by R.J. Brandon- a British Army chaplain who possibly served with the 2/24th Regiment - showing her baptism at Secunderabad, India, and listing her father's occupation as Private Soldier 2/24th Regt.

Having obtained Maurice's military record from Kew several years ago, I always wondered what had happened to the one medal he was awarded during his military service - the Zulu War/South African Medal and 1877 - 78 - 79 clasps. I assumed that it had vanished in the sands of time, and I certainly never imagined that I would learn of it’s fate.

I was very surprised and intrigued when a recent google search on my great-great grandfather's name found a for sale advert on the internet for his medal, with one of the well known UK medal dealers. Unfortunately, although I contacted them immediately they advised that it had already sold to a UK collector in Dorset, and that I had missed it by a few days.

If anyone is able to assist with putting me in contact with the buyer of this medal, or has any information they can share on Maurice O'Connell's service in the Zulu war, I'd be very grateful for any help and assistance they can provide.

This is the first time I have used this so here goes! I am trying to trace rich721. He mentions that his great grandmother was the daughter of Maurice O'Connell on an entry he posted on the 9th March 2013. Maurice O'Connell was my great grandfather and his first born (John born 24/8/1878) was my grandfather. John and his great grandmother were siblings. From research I believe her name was Jane although most knew her as Ciss. I am doing my family tree and on the 9th March 2019, just by chance and rather spookily exactly 6 years later than the entry was made by rich721, I stumbled onto this website and saw the entry about the medal so i'm delighted it is back with the family. If, rich721 reads this please can he reply - we are related!!
Maurice had 6 children and I'm off to Ireland soon to meet up with the grandson of another sibling ( Thomas born 1894) of Jane and John. The other children of Maurice were Annie, Ellen and Kate (AKA Kit). I have quite a bit of information on pre and post "Maurice" so it would be lovely to share this with another long lost relative relative.