Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will outline all efforts by the Defence Forces and his Department to follow up on an initiative from PDFORRA in March 2001 aimed at recovering the body of a person (details supplied) when they met the then Minister for the Displaced in the Lebanese Government, Marwan Hamadeh, in the Lebanon. [13081/14]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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I have discussed this matter previously with the Minister. Two members of the Defence Forces, Private Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Joyce, were killed on 27 April 1981 in Dyar Ntar, a village in south Lebanon. I wish to probe the efforts made to date by the Defence Forces and Governments to follow up on a meeting held in 2001 on the initiative of PDFORRA with representatives in Lebanon, including the Minister for the Displaced, Marwan Hamadeh. It was an important initiative and it appeared progress had been made, but I wish to hear what has happened since.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Private Kevin Joyce was killed on 27 April 1981 in the village of Dayr Ntar in south Lebanon. An observation post at Dayr Ntar, near As Sultaniyah, manned by Private Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Joyce came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Joyce was missing. Some equipment was also missing. The attackers are unknown. The incident and the disappearance of Private Joyce have been the subject of ongoing investigation by successive Irish units with UNIFIL. Specific efforts include an immediate response and search by the contingent then serving with UNIFIL, follow-up searches and inquiries by contingents with UNIFIL, a Military Police investigation in 1985, an intensive investigation by the 88th Battalion in 2000 to 2001, and a senior officer delegation in 2005, assisted by diplomatic efforts at the highest level, to endeavour to locate the whereabouts of Private Joyce. In November 2000 the 88th Infantry Battalion conducted an investigation, the conduct of which was made easier by the withdrawal of the Israeli defence forces from south Lebanon and the consequent freedom of movement in the area. Various leads were followed on the ground and representations made to the Palestinian Authority through diplomatic channels. In March 2001 contact was made with the leading members of the Fatah organisation in Lebanon. The Fatah group claimed it had not beem responsible for the disappearance of Private Joyce. However, it stated it had information on the whereabouts of Private Joyce’s body. Unfortunately, the information did not materialise. The next battalion - the 89th Infantry Battalion - continued to maintain contact with Fatah but, yet again, it was unable to gain any positive information.

A senior officer delegation travelled to Beirut in May 2005 and met various people, including the then force commander of UNIFIL, a Lebanese army liaison officer and the Honorary Irish Consul, Mr. Daouk. They also met the leader of Fatah in Lebanon, Brigadier General Sultan Al Anien, who declared that he knew the burial site of Private Joyce. Unfortunately, the follow-up inquiries from this visit did not yield positive results.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In 2007 the then Minister for Defence visited the Lebanon and met the Lebanese Minister of Defence, Mr. Elias Murr. The Minister raised with him the disappearance of Private Joyce. Mr. Murr assured the Minister that his government would assist in whatever way possible to locate the whereabouts of Private Joyce. In the past the authorities in Lebanon have made efforts to obtain information on the whereabouts of Private Joyce, including broadcasting pictures of him on television. To date, despite all of these inquiries, no information has been elicited leading to the recovery of Private Joyce. However, I am advised by the military authorities that even though it is now nearly 33 years since this tragic event happened, the case remains open. Efforts are made from time to time in Lebanon to establish the location of Private Joyce’s remains and, if located, efforts will be made to repatriate them. The Department will continue to make every effort to bring this tragic case to a conclusion.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister is probably aware, I had an opportunity to meet some members of the Doherty family in County Donegal. I represent the constituency in which they live and from where Hugh Doherty came. I met some former members of the Defence Forces who had served with the two men. Mr. Eamonn Lafftery who was a member of the Defence Forces and president of PDFORRA was also present at that meeting. He was part of the initiative taken in 2001 which appeared to show promise. I want to establish specifically what happened in following up on that initiative. That meeting took place in March 2001 and was attended by the then Minister for the Displaced in the Lebanese Government, Marwan Hamadeh, and the Archbishop of Tyre who certainly appeared to be very exercised about the matter and gave an undertaking that they would thoroughly investigate it. That was an excellent initiative. How was it followed up by the Defence Forces? What efforts did they make in this regard? Did they engage with the Minister? Was there ongoing liaison with him? There may be nothing to learn, but I want to know what happened.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In what year did that meeting take place?

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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It took place in 2001.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In response to the Deputy's initial question, I have already outlined the chronology of events. I went further on from 2001 and, unfortunately and tragically, no further information emerged. In 2007 the then Minister for Defence visited Lebanon and met the Lebanese Minister for Defence. He raised with him the disappearance of Private Joyce. The Lebanese Minister for Defence assured the Minister that his government would assist in whatever way possible to locate the whereabouts of Private Joyce. In the past the authorities in Lebanon have made efforts to obtain information on his whereabouts, including broadcasting pictures of him on television, but to date, despite all of these inquiries, no information has been elicited leading to the recovery of his remains. I am advised by the military authorities that, even though it is nearly 33 years since this tragic event happened, the case remains open. At a meeting I had in Lebanon, I believe in March last year, I again raised the issue of Private Joyce because we are all very conscious that his remains have not been found and of how this has impacted on his family, but, unfortunately, it remains the position that no further information has been made available. I know from a conversation I have had with the UNIFIL commander that they have no further information available. The difficulty is that many years have now passed and it seems unlikely that information will be brought forward, but I can assure the Deputy that he has not beem forgotten. It is my intention, should I visit the troops again in Lebanon, to again raise the issue, but I cannot tell the Deputy that I have any sense of optimism.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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I ask that the Defence Forces examine this matter. They may need to contact the people who were involved in the meeting mentioned. Marwan Hamadeh is still alive and I ask that our diplomats in the region try to make contact with him to establish what happened after he gave that undertaking. I understand he was very exercised about the matter and made telephone calls while at the meeting. He was the Minister with responsibility at the time. I acknowledge that this endeavour may well lead down a blind alley, but it is worth examining again. I ask that the Minister liaise with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, to see if our diplomats could re-engage with people in Lebanon, be it the Palestinian Authority or more particularly the former Lebanese Minister to see if there was something that was missed at the time.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have no difficulty in bringing to the attention of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what the Deputy has had to say. I am sure our ambassador will, in so far as she can, look into the possibility of making progress. Should I find myself visiting Ramallah on the West Bank again, I will have no difficulty in raising the matter, but I do not have any knowledge that indicates that anyone within the Palestinian Authority knows where the remains of Private Joyce are to be found.

I can only say to the Deputy that I am not optimistic that this will be resolved in a manner that would be fitting and appropriate. I wish it were so. I would very much like to achieve that outcome if it were possible.