WATCH: Jadotville hero's son outlines 'moral injury' suffered by troops

A son of the late Commandant Pat Quinlan, who led the Irish troops during the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo, has hosted a new video about the 'moral injury' suffered by the men of Jadotville and others.

Retired Commandant Leo Quinlan said the 29-minute video was designed to serve as an introduction to the condition known as moral injury.

Contributors to the video included Honor Lucey from the 'Women of Honour' group representing Irish women who served in the Defence Forces.

Other contributors included Marty O'Connor, an Irish man in Australia and son of a Jadotville veteran, and Wollom A Jensen, a Vietnam veteran and now-retired captain and chaplain of the United States Navy.

Mr Quinlan, who is originally from Athlone, explained that a group called Moral Injury International was formed in recent years and arose from "an examination of the after-effects on Irish veterans and their families" following the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo in 1961.

"Very quickly the term moral injury emerged, and it immediately became apparent that this condition accurately described the veterans and families of Jadotville, and what they had been suffering for more than 60 years," he said.

He stated that the moral injury which happened in respect of Jadotville involved soldiers who had undergone a traumatic experience and were "then betrayed by higher authority".

Moral injury, he added, was not just confined to the armed forces, but existed in other walks of life such as the health services, police forces, public service organisations and the private sector.

"Our aim is to increase the awareness and understanding of moral injury among individuals and organisations worldwide," he said.

You can watch the video here: