Father of Louth soldier killed in Lebanon ‘deserves’ pension payments

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

The case of Dundalk man John McNeela, who was denied payments from his deceased son’s Defence Forces pension was highlighted in the Dail this week.

Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú appealed for progress in resolving the situation for Mr. McNeela, whose son Michael was shot dead while on UN Peacekeeping duties in Lebanon in 1989.

Deputy Ó Murchú said Mr. McNeela has been refused the Defence Forces pension payments which his wife had been receiving before her death.

Minister Harris had earlier in the year committed to exploring new legislation so that Mr McNeela could continue to receive the small pension payment given by the State to his late wife.

But Deputy Ó Murchú raised the case as the Dail returned this week, saying: “Regarding the Army pensions case involving John McNeela, whose son Michael made the ultimate sacrifice in Lebanon while peacekeeping, we all know that the allowance paid to John's wife when she died was not transferred to him.”

“The Tánaiste promised to update the legislation. Is there a possibility of finding an administrative solution? Could we have a timeline on that? It is right that we do right by the memory and families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in peacekeeping”.

Minister Harris said he had the honour of meeting Mr McNeela during the National Day of Commemoration in July.

Minister Harris said: “We are committed to rectifying this in primary legislation and I spoke to my Secretary General in recent days about this. It will need to be changed through primary legislation.”

He added: “I am not sure there is an administrative solution but I have asked for the quickest bill into which to insert this amendment. If it can be a vehicle other than a defence bill, I am open to that. We are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Social Protection.

I will try to come back to the Deputy with a timeline in the next couple of weeks as to how we can move this forward. It does not necessarily have to wait for defence legislation. Other legislation could move more quickly”.

On the issue of whether the pension could be retrospective, Minister Harris said he would check with the Attorney General on the matter.