Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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136. To ask the Minister for Defence if he has received the report from former High Court Judge, Mr.Justice Roderick Murphy, which reviewed the deaths of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21294/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In December 2014, I appointed former High Court Judge, Mr. Roderick Murphy to conduct an independent review of the investigations into the death of Private Hugh Doherty and the disappearance of Private Kevin Joyce (Caomhán Seoighe) on 27 April 1981 while serving as members of the Irish Battalion with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Privates Doherty and Joyce were serving with UNIFIL in 1981 when, on 27 April 1981, an observation post at Dayr Ntar manned by them came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Joyce was missing. The attackers are unknown. Over the years, extensive diplomatic and military efforts to locate Private Joyce have proved fruitless. To date, no information has been elicited to lead to the recovery of Private Joyce's remains.

The United Nations completed a Board of Inquiry into the incident in November 1981. The Irish military authorities considered that the UN report was inadequate in certain respects and conducted a further investigation in 1982.

The Terms of Reference for the review by Mr. Murphy provide that investigations will encompass a review of all relevant documents as well as interviews with such persons as considered appropriate by the reviewer.

Mr. Roderick Murphy was scheduled to report back to me with his findings before 30 April 2015. However, at his request this date has been extended and it is now anticipated that Mr. Murphy's report will be completed later this month.