Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his response and commend the work of the Irish troops serving with the United Nations, particularly their role in dangerous global conflicts.

The Minister's contention that Trooper Browne died at Niemba is disputed by two survivors of the massacre and the officer in charge of the search party, which failed to find Browne in November 1960. Have the Minister's officials made any attempt to contact the two Niemba survivors, Mr. Joe Fitzpatrick and Mr. Tom Kenny, to ascertain their opinions? If not, why is that the case?

The Minister stated Trooper Browne's body was removed from the scene and added it was a Baluba custom to "bear away from the field of battle their most courageous victim". This is incorrect. A retired Swedish army officer who worked as an interpreter at Niemba for the Army stated there were some pictures of mutilated bodies but, in all cases, the remains were left on the spot and it was quite unlikely the Balubas would carry away a whole body, as it was more normal to take away body parts for medicine, strength and eating.

In light of the disparity of opinion on the Niemba controversy, will the Minister commission an independent assessment of the known facts rather than an Army inquiry in the interests of historical accuracy? Will the Minister and his officials revisit the book The Irish Army in the Congo 1960-1964: The Far Battalions by Mr. David O'Donoghue? They should study this book carefully as the strong evidence therein must be examined by an independent person to bring closure for the families involved.

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