Cavan council backs calls for medals

Cavan County Council has passed a motion calling for the awarding of medals to Irish soldiers who served in a 1961 military engagement.

Cllr Paddy McDonald (SF) and Cllrs Brendan Fahy (Ind) tabled motions calling on the Minister for Defence to consider awarding the medals of gallantry and distinguished service medals to soldiers who fought during the Siege of Jadotville.

The siege was an engagement during the 1961 Congo Crisis, in which the army unit were attacked by troops loyal to the Katangese prime minister. The men of ‘A’ Company, 35th Battalion were on a UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo, when they were attacked by a much-larger force.

Outnumbered, the Irish force were forced to surrender after five days as their ammunition and supplies were exhausted. They were held as prisoners of war for approximately one month, with no loss of life.

Special Jadotville medals were presented to the soldiers as well as a citation in 2017. The motion by the Cavan councillors was presented to the December meeting of the local authority by Cllr McDonald. He asked that the medals be awarded to 32 men from the siege of Jadotville.

Only eight soldiers who took part in the siege are still alive and the Sinn Féin councillors say the awarding of these medals "needs to happen".

Members were unanimous in supporting the proposal.