Madam, – On Friday July 23rd the 50th anniversary of the deployment of Irish troops to the Congo was commemorated at a ceremony at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel in Dublin. The Defence Forces were on duty with the United Nations, 26 of whom lost their lives during the four-year tour of duty. These soldiers were on a peacekeeping mission with the UN and served with bravery and selfless valour.
The Defence Forces’ proud record of service around the world, not as a predatory army but as humanitarian ambassadors, is acknowledged worldwide and is a source of national pride.
Present at the ceremony were Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, army Chief of Staff Lieut Gen Sean McCann and many army veterans and their families.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, President Mary McAleese, was not in attendance. That the President of Ireland as Commander-in-Chief of the defence forces was not present to honour those Irish who sacrificed their lives on peace-keeping duty with the UN is a source of regret.
Instead, the President was present at a passing out parade for 41 new PSNI graduates at the police training college in Belfast.
As much as I welcome the new political ecumenism brought about by the Good Friday Agreement, I find it unfortunate that when faced with the choice of attending the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of Irish soldiers participation in UN missions or a passing out parade for PSNI recruits, the President chose the latter. – Yours, etc,