The Government will shortly bring an end to a long-running controversy over the Niemba massacre of Irish troops in Congo on November 8th, 1960, The Irish Times has learned.
A patrol of 11 Irish peacekeepers under Lieut Kevin Gleeson was attacked that day by Baluba tribesmen but the number of Irish casualties at the scene is still a matter of dispute.
According to the official Army version, nine men were killed.
However, historian David O'Donoghue in his recent book, The Irish Army in the Congo 1960-64: The Far Battalions has produced evidence that the true casualty figure was eight.
O'Donoghue says the ninth man, Trooper Anthony Browne (19), from Fatima Mansions in Dublin, died several kilometres away and was probably killed by robbers.
This contradicts the official version that Browne died while providing covering fire so that one of his comrades, Private Thomas Kenny, who was married with a child, could make a run for it.
Private Kenny and Private Thomas Fitzpatrick both survived the massacre and made it back to safety, although Kenny was hit by three poisoned arrows. Almost a year later, in September 1961, and before Trooper Browne's body was found, the Army posthumously awarded him its highest honour, An Bonn Mileata Calmachta (the military medal for gallantry).
Following the publication of O'Donoghue's book and under pressure from Independent TDs Tony Gregory and Finian McGrath, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea requested the Army's chief of staff to commission a further inquiry.
This was carried out by Col Tom Behan of the Eastern Command and was completed in late September.
The results of the inquiry with recommendations are expected to be announced by the Minister when he takes parliamentary questions in the Dáil on Thursday. The investigation, which is described as "extremely thorough", took approximately six months, and several Congo veterans were among those interviewed.
The 11-page report accepts that the number of soldiers who died at the scene was eight rather than nine. "They have established that Browne died almost three miles away, two or three days later, near the village of Tundulu and that he was beaten to death by Baluba tribesmen," informed sources said.
But the report does not detract from Browne's bravery in the course of the ambush and accepts that he provided covering fire for Kenny, prior to getting away himself. There will be no question of withdrawing Browne's posthumous medal.
Meanwhile, it is understood that Privates Kenny and Fitzpatrick, both of whom are living in Dublin, may be recommended for "honourable commendations" but it does not appear that they will be awarded medals.
Some mysteries will probably always remain over the Niemba tragedy. The secret report of the Army search party, which found Trooper Browne's remains in November 1962, went missing from the files and only turned up years later as an appendix to O'Donoghue's book.
The report rejects suggestions that Browne died at the scene, with his body being carried off by the Baluba ambushers as a tribute to "the bravest of the brave". Browne was the first person to receive the medal for gallantry and the citation states: "He endeavoured to create an opportunity to allow an injured comrade to escape by firing his Gustaf thereby drawing attention to his own position which he must have been aware would endanger his life. He had a reasonable opportunity to escape because he was not wounded but chose to remain with an injured comrade."
The Niemba massacre was the single greatest loss of life in any engagement by the Defence Forces since the foundation of the State and the subsequent funeral in Dublin was one of the largest ever seen in this country.
Up to 26 Balubas were also killed in the encounter.