Carlow-Kilkenny TD and Leas Ceann Comhairle says Ireland must acknowledge the decades of suffering endured by the 156 members of A Company and their families.
Carlow-Kilkenny TD and Leas Ceann Comhairle John McGuinness has called on the State to fully acknowledge the suffering endured by the men of A Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, following the Siege of Jadotville in September 1961, including the decades of stigma, trauma and family hardship that followed their return to Ireland.
Mr McGuinness attended a special event in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, last Wednesday, organised by Post 8 of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), which brought together veterans, families, researchers and members of the public to reflect on the siege and the continuing campaign for recognition.
He said the most powerful part of the evening was the opening address by MC and event coordinator Eugene Doyle, who focused not only on the five-day battle in the Congo, but on the very different battle the soldiers faced when they came home.
“The men of Jadotville endured extraordinary circumstances in the Congo, but for many, their ordeal did not end when they returned to Ireland. They came home to a country where the word ‘surrender’ overshadowed their actions and where, for decades, many were labelled as cowards rather than recognised for their courage and military skill.
The introduction brought home the human cost of that treatment. It asked us to look beyond the battlefield and consider what happened to these men, their wives, their children and their families in the years that followed.
“These were Irish soldiers who had served their country and the United Nations. Yet many were left to carry a stigma that affected their dignity, their relationships and their ability to speak openly about what they had experienced.”
A second battle that lasted a lifetime
The Siege of Jadotville took place in September 1961, when 156 Irish UN soldiers in the Congo faced sustained attacks from a much larger force. Under Comdt Pat Quinlan, A Company held out for five days before surrendering, with all personnel surviving.
Mr McGuinness said the soldiers demonstrated extraordinary courage and discipline, yet returned home to decades of stigma, silence and a struggle for recognition.
“These men survived an incredibly dangerous ordeal, only to find their reputations questioned and their service misunderstood,” he said.
He highlighted the devastating consequences experienced by some veterans and their families, including alcoholism, family breakdown, isolation and suicide.
“The suffering extended beyond the soldiers to their wives, children and wider families, who carried the burden for decades.
“When people serve their country, the State has a responsibility to recognise their sacrifice, treat them fairly and provide appropriate support. That responsibility must continue long after their service ends.”
The State must acknowledge the harm and apologise
Mr McGuinness said further action was needed to address the treatment of Jadotville veterans, despite the awarding of the Bonn Jadotville Medal.
He highlighted outstanding bravery and gallantry recommendations involving 34 members of A Company, only five of whom are understood to remain alive.
“These men served with extraordinary courage, yet endured decades of misunderstanding, damaged reputations and suffering that extended to their families,” he said.
Mr McGuinness called for outstanding medal recommendations to be addressed and for a formal State apology acknowledging the treatment of the veterans.
“An apology cannot undo the past, but it would acknowledge the injustice endured and restore dignity to these men and their families.
“They served their country with distinction and deserve recognition, respect and justice.”
Remembering the men and their families
Mr McGuinness also acknowledged the contributions made during the evening by Comdt Leo Quinlan (Retd), son of the late Comdt Pat Quinlan; Lt Col Dan Harvey (Retd), author of Jadotville: Benchmark for Bravery; and Tom McCaughren, former RTÉ Security Correspondent and author of The Peacemakers of Niemba.
He paid tribute to the events hosts Post 8 IUNVA, particularly Comdt Larry Scallan (Retd), for hosting the gathering.
He also extended his sympathies to Ellen Hoyne and the family of the late Corporal Noel Hoyne, the Kilkenny peacekeeper whose service in the Congo formed part of the wider story of Irish military involvement in the country.
Mr McGuinness concluded:
“Wednesday evening was an important reminder that Jadotville is not simply a military episode from 1961. It is also a story about how people were treated when they came home, the impact on their families and the responsibility we have to acknowledge suffering when it becomes clear that people have been failed.
“We owe it to the surviving veterans, to the families of those who have passed away and to future generations to ensure that the full story is told.
“The State must address the outstanding questions, acknowledge the human cost and offer a formal apology. The men of Jadotville deserve recognition, dignity and justice.”
