Opening Statement: Report from the Independent Review Group – Jadotville Seanad Debate – 15th July, 2021

Report from the Independent Review Group – Jadotville

Seanad Debate – 15th July, 2021

Opening Statement:

At the outset today I would like to thank the Seanad for accommodating this debate on the report from the Independent Review Group on Jadotville which was published today. The Group examined the issue of the award of military medals to personnel who served at Jadotville while deployed overseas on UN Peace Support Mission in the Congo sixty years ago. Last November when I announced the establishment of an independent review of this important matter in this House, it was broadly welcomed by all parties. On that occasion I undertook to return to the Seanad once the review was completed. I am here today to honour that commitment given to you.

Before I get into the detail of the report, I would personally like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and sincerely thank all those who engaged with Review Group.

In particular I would like to pay tribute to the 156 Irishmen who fought so valiantly at the Battle of Jadotville in 1961 and to their families who supported them throughout and in the years since. The Review Group acknowledges that they are extremely indebted to the veterans of ‘A’ Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, who have recounted their experiences, memories, pain and concerns, with remarkable sincerity, honesty and authenticity.

The independent review group convened by the Chief of Staff brought together members with experience and competence in matters of military service, regulations, and administration, an academic of standing with an understanding of the historical context in relation to the events in the Congo, and an experienced archivist who could access source material.

Maintaining its independence throughout the review process, the Review Group have presented its conclusions and recommendations based on a rigorous and objective examination and a thorough analysis of all material and evidence, including oral and written submissions from ‘A’ Company veterans, their families and key experts.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the members of the Review Group who have carried out this comprehensive review into this very important chapter in Irish military history using an evidence based approach, which was conducted in an impartial and professional manner. The report broadens the voices telling the history of the siege at Jadotville with direct testimonies of veterans and gives a comprehensive, multidimensional, contextualised account of the Battle of Jadotville and its aftermath.

Importantly, the report highlights a level of misunderstanding in relation to the particular recommendations made for consideration of an award, either for meritorious promotions or for military medals. Through the comprehensive research conducted by the review group these misunderstandings are addressed and the report quite clearly clarifies the factual position in relation to those recommendations made nearly sixty years ago. In this regard, the Review Group acknowledges that interventions, while well intended, may have added to, rather than help resolve, issues surrounding Jadotville.

I welcome the clarification and the historical accuracy that this research process and the report brings to this issue.

The report perhaps most importantly acknowledges the deeply unsettling aftermath of Jadotville, the vilification, the whispering campaigns, the complete breakdown of trust and the abandonment which the men of ‘A’ Company suffered, which resulted in the destruction of their bond with the Defence Forces and the State which had sent them overseas in the cause of peace. This meant that many of them had nowhere to turn in the years and decades after Jadotville.

The report states “the Jadotville experience was wilfully ignored, and knowingly silenced, initially in the 1960s, and then in subsequent years”.

Many of the veterans didn’t cope well with the legacy of the experiences and I would like to acknowledge the support that families provided to Jadotville veterans in the years that followed.

On behalf of the Irish Government, I would like to sincerely apologise to the men of ‘A’ Company, 35th Battalion who were not provided with the necessary supports or deserved recognition of their service on their return from Jadotville and to their families for the many issues that arose as a result, some with tragic consequences.

The lack of supports is extremely regrettable and should not have happened, we have learned from this and we have taken great steps in the intervening years to support Defence Forces personnel, their families, and veterans through the work of the Defence Forces Personnel Support Services (PSS).

Between July 1960 and May 1964, Irish Defence Forces personnel were deployed overseas on the UN Peace Support Mission in the Congo with over 6000 individual tours of duty. Tragically 26 Defence Forces personnel lost their lives during the UN deployment in the Congo. These soldiers paid the ultimate price in support of peace. As Minister for Defence, I can assure you that all are remembered with respect and honour by my Department and the Defence Forces.

I have recently returned from a visit to Lebanon where I had an opportunity to meet with Defence Forces troops while deployed as peacekeepers in UNIFIL and to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of UNIFIL.

Ireland will have the Presidency of the UN Security Council in September and during this month there will be a focus on Ireland’s sustained contribution to Peacekeeping since its first UN deployment in 1958. It will offer us an opportunity to show our pride in those who have served in our name, at the request of the United Nations. It also offers the opportunity to recall the 87 members of our Defence Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving overseas.

This substantial report makes a number of recommendations, some of which are outside the terms of reference, nonetheless all will be considered. Tonight, however given the strong interest in relation to the award of medals, I would like to focus particularly on recommendations made in this regard. The Terms of Reference provided that the Review Group may consider the actions of individuals not already the subject of a recommendation for a medal in respect of Jadotville.

During the course of the review process, the Review Group considered that Comdt Pat Quinlan, Company Commander, ‘A’ Company, who was not previously the subject of a recommendation for a medal in respect of Jadotville merited further investigation.

The review group identified primary source evidence for the consideration of a recommendation for a posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Medal for Comdt Pat Quinlan. I am happy to accept this recommendation and it is intended to establish a military Medals Board to consider this recommendation without delay. While we should take care not pre-empt the outcome of the deliberations of a properly constituted medals board, I have requested that they report their findings to the Chief of Staff by the end of August. The report is very clear ‘that a medal for Comdt Pat Quinlan should be considered in light of the collective effort of all who served’.

Consideration for medals for other individuals would be difficult due to the limitations around evidence and I think it is important that it is recognised here and in other fora how medals are awarded and how people are recommended for those awards. When someone commits a career to the Defence Forces, medals really matter, along with the recognition that comes with them, the precedent set and how they compare with others who have also been honoured with medals. This happens on the basis of a military assessment.

It should be noted that for the 1965 Medals Board, 360 cases were presented for consideration and from those 65 personnel were recommended for the award of the Distinguished Service Medal for service with ONUC.

There are always dangers with recommending medals for some and not others and advocating bravery medals for some in the past, has left some Jadotville veterans feeling their contribution during the Battle of Jadotville was of a lesser value.

For many veterans of ‘A’ Company and their families as evidenced in this report reinforce the point that they value the integrity and status of ‘An Bonn Jadotville’ and therefore the Report recommends that the status of ‘An Bonn Jadotville’ should be retained and should be afforded due respect in recognition of the actions of ‘A’ Company at Jadotville.

I recognise that this is a report of 457 pages and many of you have only just received it today. I advise you to take the time read and review it and it is my hope that this wide ranging and thorough independent examination finally addresses and brings closure to the legacy issues relating to military medals for veterans of Jadotville and while the outcome of the review may not be what some might have anticipated, there is no doubt that this rigorous review was carried out with an evidence based and systemic approach and was conducted in an fully independent manner. With the historical accuracy that this report brings, I now appeal for unity of purpose in bringing closure to the issue for veterans.

In conclusion today, I would like to recognise the courage, skill and extraordinary contribution and sacrifice made by those involved at the time and to quote directly from the report and fully support the acknowledgement “To all veterans of ‘A’ Company, 35th Infantry Battalion and 1 Infantry Group, we salute your outstanding service as peacekeepers with the United Nations mission in the Congo in 1961.”

ENDS