'I was so lucky, I could have been shot on the spot,' recalls Jadotville veteran

Jadotville veteran, Michael Tighe, nicknamed The Tiger of Jadotville. He did three tours of the Congo - the siege of Jadotville occurred during his second tour. Photo: Bob Morrison

Michael Tighe was nicknamed the Tiger of Jadotville by his colleagues. He was as tough as they come, but there were several times during and immediately after that encounter that he thought he was going to die.

A native of Elphin, Co Roscommon, who now lives in Longford Town, Michael joined the army in April 1959. then aged 19. At Jadotville the private vividly remembers mortars exploding over his head and a jet coming in to bomb the Irish troops.