Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 605: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish soldiers who died at the Niemba massacre in the Congo; if he will clarify the location and when a person (details supplied) died; if a suitable Niemba decoration will be accorded to the two survivors. [5469/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Following a number of questions in the Dáil on this matter I undertook to have the military archive examined in relation to the Niemba ambush and to revert with the findings. The question arising was whether Trooper Browne was killed at the Niemba ambush or whether he survived for a few days and was killed near a village where he was foraging for food. A recently published book, The Irish Army in the Congo 1960-64, outlines the second version and draws on material from the unit history for this account. This differs from the long held understanding that nine members of the Defence Forces died at Niemba.

Accordingly, I requested the military authorities to examine the relevant files and they have reverted with the following information. The unit history that has been referred to holds many differing accounts of how Trooper Browne met his untimely death. The unit history, written six years after the event, does not attempt to reconcile the differing accounts of Trooper Browne's death.

The unit history does include an account that Trooper Browne survived the initial action for two days and was killed approximately three miles from the site of the action. However this information was not included in the Dáil replies because it is not supported by any independent sources.

The Tribunal de Premire Instance d'Elizabethville in November 1961 convicted five Baluba tribesmen of killing Trooper Browne and eight others on 8 November 1960. Information from Baluba survivors in Manona hospital in 1960 led investigators to believe that Trooper Brown was killed at Niemba and that his body had been removed from the scene by the ambushers. It was a Baluba custom that they bore off from the field of battle their most courageous victim.

Accordingly, it was decided that, on the balance of probability, Trooper Brown died on the battlefield in an attempt to save his comrades life. What remains incontrovertible is that Trooper Browne died, directly or indirectly, as a result of the Niemba engagement.

Since Ireland took part in their first United Nations Mission in 1958 Defence Forces personnel have performed approximately 54,000 tours of duty on 58 peace support operations worldwide. Since UN peacekeepers operate in strife-torn regions, practically every officer, NCO and private who has served overseas has been exposed to the hostile events of one sort or another.

While I fully appreciate that the experiences in the Congo were particularly distressing, it is also the case that many other members of the Defence Forces who have served overseas have been involved in serious and disturbing incidents where death and severe injury have resulted.

This is in no way intended to denigrate the distress suffered by those involved. Rather, it is to indicate that service in a war torn region inevitably exposes members of the Defence Forces to the possibility of involvement in incidents of a very serious and distressing nature.

The Defence Forces award bravery and distinguished service medals in exceptional circumstances. Cases for the award of such medals are examined in great detail having regard to the circumstances pertaining in each particular case and on the basis of comparison with previous similar awards. In 1962 a military board considered the various cases presented in relation to action in the Congo, including the Niemba ambush, and made their recommendations. At that time, 22 cases were made for the award of the military medal for gallantry and only one such medal was awarded. In the case of the distinguished service medal, a military board was convened in 1965 where 120 cases were made for this award and of those, only 24 were awarded. Clearly, such medals are awarded only in rare and exceptional circumstances and the number of personnel recommended for the award of such medals is very small.

There is no award in the Defence Forces for survivors of hostile action. If such an award were to be created, it would have to be extended to all members of the Defence Forces who suffered in a similar way. As I have indicated so many personnel who serve overseas are exposed to various degrees of hostile action, significant numbers would qualify for such an award.

Awards are made to all personnel who serve on overseas missions, which aim to recognise the contribution made by the members of each contingent serving on the peacekeeping mission and the difficult circumstances in which they have to operate. In this regard, the personnel referred to have received both a United Nations medal for their service in the Congo awarded by the UN and the United Nations peacekeeping medal awarded by the Government.