Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
729 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to have an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of an Irish soldier (details supplied) while on duty in Lebanon and the response of the Army to the disappearance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26893/12]
View answerPrivate Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Joyce were serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), when on 27 April 1981, an observation post manned by them came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Joyce was missing. Two inquiries have already been conducted into this incident, one by the United Nations in 1981 and the second by the Defence Forces in 1982.
The incident and the disappearance of Private Joyce have also been the subject of ongoing investigation by successive Irish units in UNIFIL, including a Military Police investigation (1985) and an intensive investigation by 88th Battalion in 2000/2001, assisted by diplomatic efforts at the highest level, to endeavour to locate the whereabouts of Private Joyce. To date, no information has been elicited to lead to the recovery of Private Joyce.
Unless new information becomes available, I do not consider that there is a basis for setting up another inquiry into the circumstances of this tragic incident.
