An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir November 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS VETERAN'S NEWS Pte Michael McNeela (RIP) Family visit Lebanon BY CAPT SEÁN MAGUIRE, PIO, 112 INF BN UNIFIL T he 112 Infantry Battalion had the privilege of hosting the family of Pte Michael McNeela (RIP), who was killed while serving with UNIFIL in 1989. Pte McNeela was killed on 24 February 1989 while manning a checkpoint in the town of Had- datha in South Lebanon. The South Lebanese Army, an Israeli backed militia, fired indiscriminately on the town hitting Pte McNeela in the chest with a ricochet from a heavy machine gun round, he was killed instantly. Pte McNeela was on his second tour of duty in South Lebanon and was part of a 700 man Irish Battalion in the 5,800 strong UNIFIL Force. On the 24 September 2018 Kathleen and John McNeela, ac- companied by Mick Reid and Jim McEneaney, two members of the Dundalk ONE (named the Michael MacNeela Branch), came to Lebanon to visit the site of their son's death. They had visited Lebanon once before almost 20 years ago and they were imme- diately struck by the difference in the country. The development since then throughout Lebanon and within the IRISHFINBATT area of operations (AO) made the country almost unrecogni- sable for them. As the Defence Forces is a relatively small organisation a run- ning theme throughout the visit was that many of the more senior members of the battalion either knew Michael before his death, such as Sgt Conlon who trained in the same Recruit Pla- toon, or had been in attendance at his funeral. Also with Dundalk being traditionally a garrison town and the 27 Infantry Battalion being the lead unit currently, the McNeela's came across dozens of familiar faces throughout their stay. After the long trip from Beirut to United Nations Post (UNP) 2-45, they met with OC 112 Inf Bn, Lt Col John Kilmartin, who welcomed them to Lebanon. After lunch with the battalion, the visiting group were brought to UNP 6-52, a platoon sized outpost that overlooks the Blue Line. Here they were greeted by the post commander, Lt Daniel McChrystal (27 Inf Bn), who gave them a brief on the current situation in Southern Lebanon along the Blue Line. After they met with members of the platoon on the post meeting with familiar faces from around Dundalk, some of whom they hadn't seen since they were children, such as Cpl Chris McMahon. After the visit to UNP 6-52, the McNeelas were brought to the town of Haddatha and were joined by OC 112 Inf Bn and other senior staff of the battalion, as well as the Mukhtar of Haddatha, they gathered at the crossroads where Michael was killed. The Battalion Padre Father PJ Somers led the group in a prayer, and then held a minute's silence. It was an emotional scene at the busy crossroads that has changed so much in the past 30 years. Despite the changes there was some reminders of the past. The Mukhtar remembered Michael's death from his childhood and was able to recall the event in detail. A passer-by (a.k.a HAFIF) who stopped to speak to our group informed us that he also re- membered the event and had mourned it as he had worked with the Irish for many years in his shop outside Camp Shamrock. Coin- cidently Jim McEneaney had a picture in his pocket of him and the shopkeeper together taken over 30 years previous in 1988. This coincidence lightened the mood and was memorable occasion for all. A BBQ was arranged for the McNeela Family with all the 27 Inf Bn personnel serving with the Bn later in the evening and this provided another opportunity to share stories and look at photo- graphic memorabilia from days of old. The final part of the programme for the McNeela family was a poignant event to lay a wreath at the Tibnin memo- rial ceremony. This monthly ceremony commemorates the soldiers who died while serving with United Nations. The roll of honour was read out for the month of Sep- tember with a special mention for Pte Michael McNeela and his family. John and Kathleen proudly laid a wreath at the monument for their son, while Cpl Rúan McKinstry (27 Inf Bn) played the last post on the bagpipes. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" Irish UNIFIL members pictured with the visiting family and ONE veterans at Haddatha Crossroads. 30-years apart: Hafif and Jim McEneaney. UNIFIL Honour Guard with the family and veterans at the Irish UNIFIL Memorial. Veterans Mick Reid and Jim McEneaney with John and Kathleen McNeela at UNP 2-45

• Cover