Seanad debates

Wednesday, 9 November 2016

10:30 am

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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If I had listened to Senator Burke, we would have been gone ten minutes ago, but we waited.

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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My sincere apologies, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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You are not the only one. Four matters were submitted today but you are the only Member standing. I think it might be something to do with Donald Trump. You have four minutes.

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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I wish to acknowledge that the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for Defence contacted me a number of times last night. The Minister of State conveyed the message that he wanted to be in the House today for the debate but he was unable to reschedule a number of commitments. We tried but, unfortunately, the Commencement matter could not be rescheduled to facilitate him. In fairness, he has conveyed his concern on the issue.

Some years ago I met John Gorman. He was a 17-year-old lad caught up in the siege all those years ago. He is a man of the highest integrity who, along with others, has campaigned for many years for recognition of what they did. I met him with a former member of the Defence Forces from Donegal, Eunan Carroll. Having met those two men of integrity I could see that a serious injustice had been done but it was not until I watched the film dramatisation of what had happened that this truly sank in. A group of over 150 Irish soldiers heroically did their duty for United Nations international peacekeeping. They had participated in what was probably one of the most remarkable military feats in military history in that not one of them lost their lives. Sadly, the same was not true of many of the mercenaries on the other side of the conflict who attacked them.

One might have thought they would come home to a hero's welcome after a month of imprisonment. Instead, they were betrayed utterly by the powers that be, by those in the State caught up in this Cold War piggy-in-the-middle situation. Worse than betrayal, they were allowed to be presented as cowards for all of these years. They had to suffer that indignity as well. Eunan Carroll tells me that he billeted with many of those men but they never talked about Jadotville. They were involved in such heroic events over six days and they held their ground on behalf of the international community for six days. Yet, subsequently, they felt unable to talk about it, such was the sense of betrayal among those men.

With all due respect, giving scrolls is not going to cut it. I strongly and passionately believe there needs to be a presentation of military medals of gallantry in Áras an Uachtaráin for all the men who served that day.

In the past week, two of those heroic men who served the United Nations during the days of the siege have lost their lives. They have passed away after many years. Sergeant John "Butch" McManus passed away this week and Bill Ready is being buried in Mullingar today. Gathered at the funeral will be all his old comrades from Jadotville who are still alive. As the years go on those numbers will grow smaller and smaller.

I appreciate that the Minister of State with responsibility for Defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe, contacted me. I realise he shares my sense of determination on this issue. We need to do more than simply hand out scrolls on account of the scale of the betrayal. These men served the people with honour and exhibited extraordinary heroism during those days. They came home and were betrayed for many years. The only way that can be turned around is for the surviving members to be taken to Áras an Uachtaráin, together with members of the families of those who are deceased. They should be brought to Áras an Uachtaráin and all should be presented with medals for military gallantry. That would be an appropriate way to respond. It would signify a reversal of the injustice they have endured.

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Mac Lochlainn for raising this matter and for his passionate comments on behalf of the survivors and families of the deceased. As the Senator pointed out, the Minister of State with responsibility for Defence, Deputy Kehoe, was keen be here personally to address this debate, but prior commitments precluded it. Unfortunately, despite the agreement of the Senator and the Minister of State, it was not possible to have the debate rescheduled.

I wish to reassure the House that the Government is fully aware of the bravery and heroism of the men of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, who took part in the siege at Jadotville in September 1961. Against this background, I wish to address the considerations and legislative restrictions around the award of medals. I will proceed to outline the actions that have been taken to date by this Government and previous Administrations to recognise and honour these men.

The issue of the award of medals to those in A Company was comprehensively addressed in 1965. A properly constituted board considered the various cases presented and made a decision that no medals would be awarded. The Chief of Staff of the day considered the decision of the board and was satisfied with the findings. Subsequently, the question was raised again in a letter to the then Chief of Staff, who forwarded the letter to the medals board. The board indicated that the issues raised had received due consideration and that it was not prepared to alter its findings.

The legal position under Defence Forces regulations is that there is no provision for the Minister to make an award of the military medal for gallantry other than on the recommendation of a military board appointed by the Chief of Staff. Nor is there any mechanism for a case to be referred back to a military board for fresh examination.

In 2004 the then Minister for Defence initiated a re-examination of the Jadotville case on foot of a request from a retired Army officer. The report that resulted was prepared by a board of military officers who fully exonerated the actions of A Company and recommended that the events of Jadotville and the contribution of the 35th Battalion be given appropriate recognition. Subsequently, in November 2005, a commemorative stone to honour their actions was unveiled in Custume Barracks, Athlone, attended by members of the company, their families and the families of the deceased members of the unit. A bronze plaque was affixed to the stone with an inscription recognising their valiant actions.

In November 2006 there was a presentation of scrolls to the members of A Company by the then Minister of State in recognition of their bravery. In February 2007 portraits of Lieutenant Colonel McNamee, 35th Battalion commander, and Commandant Pat Quinlan, company commander, A Company, were unveiled at the Military College and now hang in the Congo room in the United Nations Training School Ireland in the Curragh. In September 2011 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.

Recently, the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kehoe, decided to issue a unit citation and insignia to honour the collective actions and bravery of the men of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion. On 17 September 2016, the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville ,a special ceremony was held in Custume Barracks, Athlone, to present the unit citation to the company in recognition of their collective bravery, courage and professional performance during the siege of Jadotville when they were cut off from support and reinforcements. During the ceremony a copy of the citation was presented to each member of the unit or to the next-of-kin in the case of deceased members. In addition, to reflect the fact that the unit has received a citation, a special insignia has been commissioned which will be worn by each member of A Company. A unit citation is used by a number of militaries as a way of recognising the collective actions and outstanding service of personnel attached to particular military units. This was the first time such a unit citation was awarded in the Defence Forces. The decision of the Minister provides a formal recognition of the collective bravery and actions of the men of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion.

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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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.

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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The Senator makes a very compelling case and I am sure the Minister will convey his heartfelt sentiments to the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe.

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for his passionate comments on this matter. I will raise it with the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe. As I said, there is no provision under the Defence Forces regulations for the Minister of State to make an award of a military medal for gallantry. The Senator or others will be able to check whether the legal position can be changed or how that can be done. However, I will convey the Senator's concern to the Minister, Deputy Kehoe. Perhaps the Senator could also write to the President, Michael D. Higgins, to convey his views and see if he can get involved. I, too, had not heard about the siege at Jadotville or the issues involved until very recently and I have not had an opportunity yet to see the film. However, I have read some of the media reports and I saw the television footage of the ceremony in Athlone in September. As soon as I see the Minister of State, I will highlight the Senator's concerns and the passionate way in which he asked for these changes to be enacted.

Sitting suspended at 10.55 a.m. and resumed at 11.30 a.m.