The lightly armed Irish soldiers, besieged in Jadotville (modern Likasi), resisted Katangese assaults for five days as a relief force of Irish, Indian and Swedish troops unsuccessfully attempted to reach the Irish force. The term "Jadotville Jack" was sometimes applied as a term of derision about the Irish Defence Forces. Two previous companies of ONUC peacekeepers — one Swedish and one Irish — had been withdrawn from Jadotville in the days prior to the arrival of Quinlan's force.At 07:40 on the morning of Wednesday 13 September 1961, the Katangese attacked while many of the UN Irish troops were attending an open-air The Katangese attacked in waves of 600 or so, preceded by bombardment from 81mm mortars and a French The fire from the UN Irish positions proved accurate and effective.
The Shinkolobwe mine by Jadotville was described by a 1943 But when the Irish troops arrived at Jadotville, they were not welcomed by the local people, due to strong pro-Katangese and anti-UN feeling. Quinlan, who died in 1997, had his public reputation finally restored only nine years after his death.In the wake of a campaign for recognition of the Battle of Jadotville by John Gorman, a retired soldier who was a 17-year old Private during the battle, the Minister for Defence Having had problems with transportation, the Irish UN troops were forced to deploy to The initial attack by the Katangese occurred while many of the Irish troops were attending Mass.
They were spotted and a Several attempts were made to relieve the besieged soldiers by the 500 Irish and Swedish UN troops from the base in False reports of the deaths of several Irish soldiers circulated in the media at the time of the attacks. Some analysts suggest that the Belgian Fouga pilot mistook bed rolls for body bags as he overflew the battlefield.Until the early 21st century, the Irish state did not give much recognition to the battle of Jadotville. Even though A Company 35th Battalion had tactically defeated a much larger enemy force at Jadotville the Defence Forces buried all record of the battle, presumably over shame that A Company had in fact surrendered. Mercenary officers were reportedly observed shooting native gendarmes to stem the rout caused in Katangese lines.A series of battles took place at a pinch point called the Lufira Bridge. Commandant Quinlan eventually retired as a full Colonel but never served overseas again, and it was recognized by the officers who fought at Jadotville that it was best for one's career not to mention the battle. Having had problems with transportation, the Irish UN troops were forced to deploy to Jadotville (present day Likasi) without their full complement of support weaponry.