Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The painting of Commandant Quinlan that hangs in the officers' mess, which the Minister of State mentioned, apparently refers to the misfortune that took place in Jadotville. The Minister of State referred to the decision made in 1965. That is no shock to me. The true cowards with regard to Jadotville were those in the political establishment, and some in the military establishment, who allowed the names of those involved to be besmirched. That is the profound damage. Imagine being involved, as a young man, in that situation of heroism, defending the honour of the Irish people, taking part in peacekeeping for the United Nations and yet being treated like that for years afterward and feeling one could not even talk about Jadotville. They were labelled the "Jadotville Jacks". With all due respect, I do not believe that scrolls or the like are appropriate to reverse the betrayal those men faced. The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, has watched "The Siege of Jadotville" and we discussed this briefly last week. Generations of Irish people never heard of Jadotville. I had never heard of it until I met John Gorman and Eunan Carroll, but I know all about it now. Many Irish people are deeply and profoundly angry to learn about the betrayal of those men.

The Minister can refer to legislation, blockages and the reasons it cannot be done. However, we can do anything we put our mind to in this State. The way to right the wrong is not a matter for the Minister but for the President, Michael D. Higgins, in Áras an Uachtaráin, who can bestow the honour on those men and on the families of the deceased members. Whatever it is, the appropriate honour must be bestowed at Áras an Uachtaráin, with the President acting on behalf of all of the Irish people. I believe it should be the military medal for gallantry, the highest honour the State can award. The Minister should forget about what has happened and about the legislative barriers involved and should make this happen. He should work with his colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kehoe, and raise it with the Taoiseach. They must be made aware of the growing anger not just among the families of those men who carried it alone for all those years but in wider society, including among individuals such as myself. There is growing outrage and anger about the failure to give them the honour they deserve. The Minister must reflect on this and understand the hurt and the pain. The appropriate way to reverse that is to take those people to the highest place of honour in the State - Áras an Uachtaráin - and honour them appropriately.