If I met the minister I’d snub him... the Defence department don’t give a s**t about us
A SOLDIER last night slammed the Department of Defence and Minister Paul Kehoe over the fiasco which has left troops stranded in Syria.
The dad of one, who is banned from talking to the media, said it was due to “laziness and a lack of respect” that 119 Irish peacekeepers have been delayed for two weeks after they did not receive clearance to travel home.
The Irish Mirror learned on Wednesday a dozy diplomat filled out out the wrong name of the UN Operation they are attached to, meaning authorities in Beirut would not let them travel home through their country.
The soldier insisted that if he met Defence Minister Paul Kehoe or any of his officials he would snub them.
He added: “I wouldn’t even acknowledge him. It’s not the Defence Forces that caused this, it’s the Department for Defence that were too lazy to book it properly. They have known for months when we were due home. There’s no excuse for it – just pure laziness and a lack of respect for the Defence Forces.
“We are the bottom of the list in the country and leaving us over here is just another example they don’t give a s**t.”
He also revealed the devastation it has caused his family and told of the heartbreaking moment the news was broken to children back home.
The soldier said: “Telling the family was horrible, some people had children crying down Skype, because their daddies weren’t coming home.
“The €1,000 [compensation] they are giving us – lads would pay €5,000 to have got home.
“€1,000 is nothing when you can’t put a smile on your Yesterday’s paper & Mr Kehoe child’s face because they waited six months for daddy to come home.” He added it is a huge strain for partners after a long stint running the home alone. The soldier said: “They were angry they would not to be home for their holidays, some were due to go away at the weekend. I’d say maybe 60% of us here are parents.” The troops have been told they won’t be home until October 16 and to get back to work.
He added: “We are back on duty now because the next group relieving us are not here yet.”
Minister Kehoe said: “Every effort possible is being made right across the Defence Organisation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and our embassy in Cairo to address this issue and ensure the safe and secure return of our personnel as soon as possible.”
The soldier told how the news came as they were ready to fly home.
He revealed: “We had our bags handed in at 2pm on Monday. We were finished our tour and looking forward to going home.
“The buzz was great and then at 7.30pm we had an emergency meeting and were told something went wrong with the plane and we weren’t going home until the next day.
“Tuesday was a waiting game, no answers all day, just guessing what was going to happen next.
“Wednesday morning we were told it was bad news that we were here to October 16 because nothing is finalised yet.”
He said morale was already at an all-time low over pay and conditions.
The soldier added: “There’s a lot of talk of people from our group leaving because of the pay and now this on top of it has made it sway a lot more in that direction.
“A job for life was the motto, but now it’s not.” Irish camp in Syria