Planning for State's Jadotville anniversary event 'on hold'

The Department of Defence said plans for a State event to mark the 60th anniversary of Jadotville have been put on hold as a result of a legal action challenging the outcome of an independent review on the issue of medals for soldiers who served there.

In July, Defence Minister Simon Coveney said there would be a State event to commemorate the 60-year Jadotville milestone, with September 19 mentioned as the likely date.

However, the event has not taken place, with the Department of Defence saying last month that, although planning for it was underway, no date had been fixed.

When contacted by the Westmeath Independent last week, a Department spokesperson said the plans had now been paused.

"With regard to... planning for an appropriate commemorative event to mark the 60th anniversary of Jadotville, and which would also honour the families of the Jadotville veterans, a judicial review related to a recommendation of the independent review group's report is underway at present.

"As a result, planning for an appropriate commemorative event is paused until the Defence Organisation has legal clarity on implementing the recommendations of the independent review group's report," said spokesperson Jane Nolan.

The independent review group, which was set up to re-examine whether medals for gallantry and distinguished service should be awarded to Irish soldiers during the battle in the Congo, recommended that only one medal should be awarded.

The group's almost 500-page report, which was published in July, concluded there was a prima facie case for a posthumous award of the Distinguished Service Medal to Comdt Pat Quinlan, who commanded 'A' Company of the 35 Infantry Battalion.

However, it did not conclude that medals should be considered for the 33 other Jadotville personnel who had been recommended for medals for gallantry or distinguished service in the 1960s.

Legal proceedings in response to the independent review group's report have since been initiated by two retired members of the Defence Forces, Senator Gerard Craughwell and Leo Quinlan, and the matter is due to come before the High Court again next Tuesday (November 2).

The Jadotville anniversary was the subject of an episode of RTÉ's Nationwide programme on Wednesday last.