Minister Coveney's Speech to Jadotville Event at Custume Barracks, Athlone

Check against delivery

Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Senators, Deputies, Councillors, Chief of Staff, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

As Minister for Defence, I am very pleased to be here today at this special event to unveil the monument dedicated to the families of “A” Company 35th Infantry Battalion, who assembled at this location in advance of the fateful deployment to the Congo in September 1961.

I particularly want to acknowledge the presence here today of the surviving members of “A” Company who took part so bravely in the Siege of Jadotville, and I would like to take a moment to remember those members of “A” Company, who are no longer with us.

And of course I want to extend a special welcome to the family members of the personnel of “A” Company - this day is about you, and honouring the role of the parents, wives and families during the Battle of Jadotville and the subsequent period in captivity.

Unfortunately, the Secretary General of the Department of Defence, Jacqui McCrum, is unable to be here today but she has asked that I pass on her warmest regards to you all.

I know that this location is very close to the heart of all of you. Custume Barracks is considered the spiritual home of ‘A’ Company. It is also the location of a bronze plaque that is affixed to the plinth of a commemorative stone placed in honour of “A” Company, and it was here that the Unit Citation was presented to the men of “A” Company in recognition of your collective actions at the Siege.

It was also here in Custume Barracks in December 2017, that An Bonn Jadotville, was presented to the men of “A” Company, in tribute to their courageous actions.

As you will all be aware, in 2020, I asked the Chief of Staff to consider whether it was possible, as an exceptional measure, to have a retrospective examination of the events at Jadotville in September 1961.

In response, the Chief of Staff proposed the establishment of an independent group of external experts to consider the entire Jadotville case and evidence, including new evidence if any, available. The Independent Review Group established by the Chief of Staff in December 2020 consisted of the following members: Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham (Retired) as Group Chairperson; Dr Michael Kennedy, Royal Irish Academy; Commandant Billy Campbell (Retired); RSM Michael Dillon (Retired); Ms Linda Hickey, Military Archives;, and Col John Spierin (Retired) as Legal Advisor.

The Independent Review Group examined, and made recommendations in relation to the ‘Battle of Jadotville’, and its report was published on 15th July 2021. The report was dedicated to the 156 Irishmen who fought in the Battle of Jadotville in September 1961 and to their wives, children and families, who supported them throughout. I want to thank you, the families of “A” Company, who engaged and gave your time so generously to the review.

It is appropriate to take this opportunity to recognise the work of the Review Group, and indeed earlier this week I received correspondence from a family member who requested that I “please acknowledge the deep appreciation felt for the IRG's painstaking, emotional and sometimes difficult work and their invaluable contribution to the Jadotville story.”

As acknowledged in the report of the Review Group, the experiences at Jadotville and the aftermath had a tangible and lasting effect not only on those returning home, but also on their families. Many men returned from Jadotville with traumatic memories that would stay with them and their families, and it was the parents, wives and families who provided comfort to their returning fathers, husbands, sons and brothers and who suffered alongside them. Their voices can be so clearly heard in the report of the Review Group, and these lived experiences of the families made such a compelling impression on the members of the review group that a core recommendation of the report centred on recognition of their role.

And that brings us to today’s event. In recognition of the role of parents, wives and families residing in Athlone, Galway, Mullingar and elsewhere during the Battle of Jadotville and the subsequent period in captivity, the Independent Review Group made a recommendation that a plaque in their honour be affixed to the memorial honouring personnel of ‘A’ Company, 35 Infantry Battalion here in Custume Barracks.

After further consideration, and following consultation by my department with the veterans’ associations, it was decided that a more substantial monument was appropriate, and I was honoured to unveil this monument this afternoon. The monument bears the inscription “Honouring the unwavering support of the families of personnel of A Company 35 Infantry Battalion ONUC” and it will stand here in Custume Barracks as a perpetual acknowledgement and recognition of the roles of the families, including all of you who have gathered here today.

Let me thank all those individuals whose invaluable assistance to the Department of Defence has helped make today’s event possible. In particular, John Gorman has been invaluable in helping my department contact so many of you to ensure you can be here today. John has worked tirelessly over the years to ensure that the Jadotville veterans were appropriately honoured.

I want to take the opportunity to recall the contribution of all of the 6,000 Irish soldiers who served in the Congo from 1960 until 1964. Irish Peacekeepers took part in several, very serious military engagements during the Congo Mission. Many of these actions became household names and remain so to this day such as the action at Elizabethville. In particular, I would like to take a moment to recall the event that took place at Niemba (NIM-BA) the year before the siege of Jadotville. The Irish Nation still feels very keenly the loss of 9 Irish soldiers at that awful ambush.

Altogether, 26 Irish peacekeepers lost their lives over the course of the long Congo Mission. Let us all pause for a moment to remember their sacrifice.

Everyone here knows very well the history of the Siege of Jadotville but I will tell it again since it bears repeating. “A” Company of the 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the United Nations post at Jadotville in early September 1961. “A” Company was subsequently surrounded by a large force supporting the breakaway province of Katanga. On the morning of the 13th of September, the Company came under attack from this force. Over the following days, until 17th September, they endured almost continuous attacks from ground and air without any loss of life to the members of the Company. Despite the overwhelming numbers opposing them, the men of ‘A’ company retained their resolve and remained unshaken during the attack.

Despite their courageous resistance and the sustained efforts of 35th Infantry Battalion HQ and other UN forces to provide assistance, “A” Company was taken into captivity on 17th September. As we all know, by this time “A” Company had run out of ammunition and food and was low on water. Several men had been wounded and there was no access to resupply or reinforcements. “A” Company remained in captivity until finally released on 25th October 1961.

This short description does not and cannot reflect the incredible reality of what happened during the siege and its aftermath. It can only briefly suggest the courage shown by the men of “A” Company in your willingness to act and the bravery displayed in your every actions. That is why I feel truly privileged to have the chance to meet you, and of course the families of the men of “A” Company, here today.

I will now hand over to Retired Captain Noel Carey, the last surviving officer of the Siege of Jadotville, who would like to say a few words.

Minister Coveney's Speech to Jadotville Event at Custume Barracks, Athlone

Part of

Policies