Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. This is the first time I have met him as Minister for Defence in this House so I congratulate him on his appointment. I also congratulate him on the fact that he has not appointed a Minister of State to work under him in the Department of Defence and has taken a hands-on position. He has met the representative bodies and visited a number of centres and units throughout the country. I am 100% behind him. I want to work with him and see him achieve the things he has told me he wants to achieve with the Defence Forces. Our Defence Forces are a proud group of people and all they need is the recognition that the Minister is working to get for them.

Since October 2016, I have called on the Government of the day to award medals to the Jadotville heroes on 28 separate occasions, the most recent being on the Order of Business a few weeks ago. The first time I raised the issue was in 2016, after the parade organised by ex-sergeant Paul Clarke at Collins Barracks, which was called Jadotville day and which has been held every year since. I came into this Chamber and said it was a sad reflection on the country that we did not do those heroes proud. We have not issued them with medals for the service they have given the country. Over the last four years I have travelled the length and breadth of the country and I have been honoured to meet surviving Jadotville veterans and the proud families of those who are sadly deceased.

However, my greatest sadness and remorse is that I served as a sergeant alongside three of the heroes of Jadotville in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa i nGaillimh and never knew that they had served in Jadotville. I never heard word of Jadotville. I am talking about Corporal John Flynn, Private Charlie Cooley, who was nominated for the distinguished service medal, DSM, and Gunner Bobby Orr, all of whom served in Galway. I want to say to these men, particularly because I trained recruits in Galway, that I am deeply sorry I did not know of their heroism and that I was not in a position to introduce recruits to them as the heroes they were. I acknowledge John Gorman in particular. He devoted most of his life to fighting for the recognition of his peers who served with him in Jadotville. If any man deserves recognition in this House today, it is John Gorman.

I have stood in the Chamber on a number of occasions and noted the passing of valiant members of A Company who went to their graves without the vindication and honour they deserved. I have met the families of those who took their own lives. Believe it or not, they returned from Jadotville as heroes. Most of them came from Galway and Athlone. They marched into Athlone as heroes and a very short time later they were regarded as cowards. I heard names being called out by the Cathaoirleach at the start of this debate. One that sticks in my mind is Geoffrey Cuffe. Geoff and I served in Athlone training potential non-commissioned officers, NCOs. He was a wonderful character in his time.

The people from Jadotville who were nominated for military medals for gallantry were: Company Sergeant John Prendergast; Sergeant John Monaghan; Sergeant Walter Hegarty, who is related to me through my niece; Corporal Timothy "Tadhg", Quinn; and Private Gerald Hennely. Those recommended for DSMs were: Captain William "Liam" Donnelly; Lieutenant Kevin Knightly; Lieutenant William Noel Carey, who is still with us; Lieutenant Tom Quinlan, Company Sergeant John Prendergast; Sergeant John Monaghan; Sergeant Walter Hegarty, who got a DSM at a later stage; Sergeant Tom Kelly; Corporal Frank Williams; Corporal James Rea; Corporal James Lucey; Corporal Tom McDonnell; Corporal John Foley; Corporal John McDonagh; Corporal John McManus; Corporal Tadhg Quinn; Corporal Michael Lynch; Private Joe O'Kane; Private Robert Larkin; Private Michael McCormack; Private Tom Gunn; Private Charles Cooley, who is watching this in Renmore today and who has a great character; Private Thomas Flynn; Private Michael Tighe; Private Daniel Molloy; Private John Nicell; Private Jim Feery; Private Noel Stanley; Private Michael Brennan; Private Gerard Hennely; Private Matt Quinlan; Private Michael Galvin; and Private Patrick McCarton. Those are recommendations. I fully support what the Minister is trying to do but this is a military matter, not a political matter. It is up to the military authorities to re-examine this case and make recommendations to the Minister. It is not for politicans to decide who gets medals in this world.

The late Colonel Pat Quinlan's action is cited in military textbooks worldwide as the best example of the use of the so-called "perimeter defence". The siege of Jadotville is internationally regarded as one of the most heroic battles in Irish military history and to this day is hailed as an example of bravery and military genius. Why is it that we cannot recognise our heroes? Why can Australia award a Victoria cross 75 years after an event and we cannot do similar? Again, it falls back to the military to look at this matter and make recommendations to the Minister. It is not for the Minister to demand medals for anybody.

I could go through the battle and the various waves that happened but there is no point in that. We have all heard of it before and there is no point in replaying that here today. A Company suffered no collateral damage. A few people were wounded but that was all. However, it inflicted massive damage on the enemy. Over the last four years I have had the unique privilege of working with John Gorman and Commandant Leo Quinlan, who is the son of Pat Quinlan. Indeed, I served under all of the Quinlans at one stage or another in my career. They are a fine military family. Colonel Pat Quinlan, or Commandant Quinlan at the time, was without doubt a leader second to none.For a man from a military background where there was no experience of warfare and battle, his leadership at Jadotville was phenomenal and second to none.

I compliment the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, on the brave step he took in bringing about An Bonn Jadotville. It was a tremendous day for all of us. I thank the students of Galway Community College and Malahide Community School for their political lobbying on behalf of the veterans of Jadotville, and the history teachers in particular. We have heard that eight veterans are still alive but that does not mean we can throw out the rule book and give those eight people medals. As my colleague, Senator Byrne, said, what we must do is expedite the research of the Chief of Staff into this issue, get a medals board together and see if we can make a recommendation. A recommendation is not a medal and that needs to be learned here. There needs to be an open and transparent appraisal of what took place at Jadotville, and then medals should be issued where they are due.

I say that because I am extremely proud of the people of whom I speak today. I am extremely proud of people like Charlie Cooley. I met him not so long ago sitting in a wheelchair. Those are all men in their 80s now. At the end of the day, we did some service for them by giving them An Bonn Jadotville but we need to go the extra step and clearly decide one way or the other on this issue.

Finally, I ask the Chief of Staff to include two further people in his deliberations. One is Pat Quinlan, who was never recommended for any medal whatsoever. He was, however, the leader on the day in Jadotville. The other person is John Gorman, who I believe, in the finest military tradition, has gone over and above the call of duty to ensure that his peers and colleagues were recognised for what happened at Jadotville. I am sorry for going over my time.