Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 581: To ask the Minister for Defence if the members of the Defence Forces killed in action at Niemba in the Congo were the first Irish soldiers to die in battle serving on a UN mission; if this is the largest single loss of life of Irish soldiers on UN duty; if this group was ill-equipped and ill-prepared for the jungle warfare that resulted in their deaths; if the Congo-Niemba war tragedy therefore was unique for the above reasons; his response to the claims in the new publication [i]The Irish Army in the Congo 1960-1964, The Far Battalions,[/i] that the Defence Forces official account of the Niemba ambush, on 8 November 1960 is not accurate; if he will not have these claims considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30082/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 582: To ask the Minister for Defence the way in which a person (details supplied) is listed among those who died in Niemba massacre on 8 November 1960 while Army reports just published show that he died in a separate incident almost three miles away and some days later; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30117/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 582 together.

The nine members of the Defence Forces who were killed in the Niemba ambush were the first members of the Defence Forces to lose their lives in battle while serving on a UN mission. This was the largest single loss of life in any one incident in the history of the Defence Forces participation in UN service. The 33rd Battalion was equipped and trained in accordance with prevailing military doctrine at the time.

On 8 November 1960 an 11 man patrol was engaged by Baluba tribesmen and they retreated into the bush, where fighting continued for some time. Nine members of the patrol were killed that day. Two members survived and were found by Irish patrols on 9 and 10 November. Eight of the nine bodies were also recovered over these two days. The ninth body was not located at the time. In the autumn of 1962 the Defence Forces learned that the location of the ninth body was known. A team of officers was sent to meet the Niemba civil administration and, after lengthy discussions, was brought to where the body lay. The body was removed to Elizabethville and returned to Ireland for burial.

Neither my Department nor the Defence Forces has a copy of the publication referred to in the question and steps are being taken to obtain a copy.