O'Dea rules out new inquiry into Congo ambush

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has ruled out any further inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the 1960s Niemba ambush in the Congo but said that the focus should now be on rehabilitating the two surviving soldiers by publicly acknowledging their contribution.

Independent TD Finian McGrath (Dublin North-Central) had called for the Minister to appoint an independent person not associated with the Defence Forces to take evidence from the two surviving soldiers, Pte Joe Fitzpatrick and Pte Tom Kenny, and consider other evidence.

The survivors both felt that their names had "not been cleared" by the report and review carried out by Col Tom Behan to examine all aspects of the Niemba ambush, in which an 11-man patrol commanded by Lt Kevin Gleeson came under attack from a large number of Baluba tribesmen.

However, Mr O'Dea said: "I am sorry to hear the soldiers feel they have not been vindicated by the report.

"I suspect the reason is the report makes its conclusions on the balance of probabilities, because Col Behan, an independent person of the highest integrity, says there is not enough material to enable him to come to a conclusion beyond reasonable doubt."

The report followed the publication of a book on the ambush by David O'Donoghue, The Irish Army in the Congo 1960-64: The Far Battalions.

Mr McGrath said that the survivors "surely deserve more than an inconclusive report by the Army, which appears to be hiding the truth behind the events at Niemba almost 50 years ago".

Mr O'Dea said that everyone wanted the truth about the ambush, but it was "almost certain that neither of the two eyewitnesses to whom we can talk is aware of all the circumstances because this was a fraught situation in which they were under fire and in danger of their lives".

The Minister was satisfied that there was "no more to be gained by holding an independent inquiry", but he wanted to acknowledge the contribution of the two men at a public event, such as the Unifil review of troops.

He told the Labour Party's defence spokesman, Joe Costello, that medals had not been recommended for the two surviving soldiers.