Brendan Griffin
Question:26. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will review the State’s overall handing of the Jadotville case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5199/23]
View answerThursday, 2 February 2023
Questions (26)
Written answers
The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack. From the 13th to the 17th September they endured almost continuous attack. They were taken into captivity on the 17th September and remained in captivity until finally released on the 25th October 1961.
The issue of the award of medals to the men of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion was addressed in 1962 and 1965. A properly constituted Medals Board considered the various cases presented. The board did not award any medals whose citations mention Jadotville. The Chief of Staff of the day considered the decision of the Board and was satisfied with the findings. Subsequently at that time, the question was raised again in a letter to a newly appointed Chief of Staff. He forwarded the letter to the original Medals Board and asked that they reconvene and review their decision. The Board indicated that the issues raised had received due consideration and that they were not prepared to alter their findings.
A review was conducted in 2004 by military officers for the purpose of a broader examination of the Jadotville case. This Board recommended that the events of Jadotville and the contribution of the 35th Battalion be given recognition. In this context, a number of measures have taken place to honour and to commemorate the events at Jadotville and the very significant contribution of “A” Company and of the 35th Battalion, as a whole, to the UN Peace Support Mission in the Congo.
Recognition of their contribution between the years 2004 and 2015 include:
1. A presentation of scrolls to "A" Company in 2006.
2. Portraits of Lt Col McNamee (35th Battalion Commander) and Comdt Quinlan (Company Commander “A” Company) were commissioned in 2006.
3. In July of 2010 the 50th anniversary of the first deployment to the Congo was commemorated in a highly publicised and well attended event in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
4. A nominal roll of “A” Company, printed in copper, was affixed to the monument in Custume Barracks and was unveiled as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Jadotville affair in September 2011.
5. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville, a Unit Citation to honour the collective actions and bravery of the men of “A” Company was issued. This was the first time a Unit Citation was awarded within the Defence Forces.
In June 2017, at the request of the Minister with responsibility for Defence, a further review of archival records relating to the Siege of Jadotville was undertaken by the Military Authorities but this did not uncover any additional information not already known. However, the findings of this review clarified that there is no certainty available in archive records on the totality of “A” Company personnel recommended for awards. Furthermore, it revealed no evidence of the outcome of the award consideration process. In considering the proposed way forward, the Military Authorities outlined that political direction would be required to take forward action in this area.
Given the increased knowledge and understanding of the unique and exceptional circumstances surrounding the Siege of Jadotville and taking account of the request from Military Authorities for political direction, the then Taoiseach and the then Minister with responsibility for Defence decided that the most appropriate decision would be to collectively honour the actions of “A” Company at Jadotville.
A specially commissioned medal “An Bonn Jadotville” was awarded to all the men of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion and the next of kin of deceased members, to give full and due recognition in honour of their courageous actions at the Siege of Jadotville in September, 1961. This medal presentation ceremony took place in Custume Barracks, Athlone on 2nd December 2017.
Notwithstanding the actions that have been taken to date to recognise and honour the valiant actions and bravery of all of the men stationed at Jadotville sixty years ago, an Independent Review Group (IRG) was established in 2021 to examine and report on matters relating to recommendations for military medals relating to events at Jadotville.
The Independent Review Group was established by the Chief of Staff and consisted of the following members:
Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham (Retired) (Group Chairperson).
Dr Michael Kennedy, Royal Irish Academy.
Commandant Billy Campbell (Retired).
RSM Michael Dillon (Retired).
Ms Linda Hickey, Military Archives.
The Terms of Reference for the review were as follows:-
- The Review Group will consider ONUC’s operational environment in Katanga, and in particular in Elizabethville and Jadotville
- The Review Group will consider the historical evidence and processes in relation to all recommendations for military medals received with respect to the events at Jadotville or encompassing Jadotville.
- The Review Group will engage with national and international stakeholders (including Jadotville veterans) as appropriate, with a view to uncovering any additional or new evidence in this case.
- The Review Group may consider the actions of individuals not already the subject of a recommendation for a medal in respect of Jadotville.
- The Review Group will report its findings to the Chief of Staff. The Review Group may make recommendations in relation to possible awards in respect of Jadotville.
The report, which was published in full in July 2021, is substantial and makes a number of recommendations in respect of the issue of award of medals, honouring the role of families and the support they provided to veterans and in respect of veterans affairs.
The deeply unsettling aftermath of Jadotville is detailed in the report as is the lack of personal welfare supports afforded to the men following events at Jadotville, their period in captivity and upon their return home. The former Minister for Defence, Mr Simon Coveney, has apologised to veterans and to their families on behalf of the State and the Government to the men of ‘A’ Company, 35th Infantry Battalion and to their families for the lack of necessary supports or deserved recognition of their valiant service on their return from the Congo and for the many issues that arose as a result, some of which had tragic consequences. He has also acknowledged that the lack of supports in place at that time is extremely regrettable. There have been great steps in the intervening years to support Defence Forces personnel, their families and veterans through the work of the Defence Forces personnel support services.
In recognition of the role of parents, wives and families residing in Athlone, Galway, Mullingar and elsewhere during the Battle of Jadotville and the subsequent period in captivity, the Independent Review Group strongly recommended that a plaque in their honour be affixed to the memorial honouring personnel of ‘A’ Company, 35 Infantry Battalion in Custume Barracks Athlone.
After further consideration by the Department and the Defence Forces, and in response to the views received from the veterans’ associations, a more substantial monument honouring the families was commissioned, to be placed at the site of the existing memorial honouring the personnel of ‘A’ Company, 35 Infantry Battalion in Custume Barracks Athlone. This monument was unveiled by the then Minister for Defence Simon Coveney at a brief ceremony on 9th December 2022 at Custume Barracks, Athlone.
The implementation of any outstanding Independent Review Group recommendations is ongoing.
I am satisfied the matter has been addressed comprehensively and there are no plans to commence a process of further engagement.
Question No. 27 answered orally.