Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will institute an investigation into the loss of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17193/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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On 15 September, 1961, Trooper Patrick Mullins and Corporal Michael Nolan were killed in action in the Congo when their armoured vehicle was hit by anti tank fire from armed elements. While the remains of Corporal Nolan were recovered, those of Trooper Mullins were not. An investigation into Trooper Mullins's death by the military authorities at the time concluded on 29 January, 1962, that he was killed in action at Ave Du Cuivre, Lubumbashi, Elisabethville, Katanga in the Republic of the Congo as a result of the hostile action. Trooper Mullins was posthumously awarded "An Realt Mileata" (The Military Star).

Given the remove of forty-five years since the incident, it is difficult to anticipate whether a re-opening of the case would yield any information not already known. However, as I previously advised the House, I requested the military authorities to inquire into this matter and provide me with a report. The military authorities have conducted a detailed review of all material available to them. All relevant files in Administration section have been examined as well as those held by military archives, including the unit history of the 35th infantry battalion with whom Trooper Mullins served. The information elicited in this process has been quite limited and would indicate that while ongoing enquiries were made through the normal sources including through the Red Cross etc in an effort to locate and recover the bodies, Trooper Mullins body was never located. The military authorities have been unable to locate any UN or contingent Board of Inquiry reports on the incident at this time and it is not clear as to whether any such enquiry was ever established. Inquiries at the UN are continuing in this regard.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the standards and requirements in relation to Courts of Inquiry and investigations, which were in place in 1961, may not have been up to the type of standards we would expect today. A preliminary report has been provided to me on the enquiries made by the military authorities to date. I am awaiting additional information and I will consider the matter further when this is to hand.