The revelation that 68 serving Defence Forces members have convictions or are before the courts is the latest scandal to rock Óglaigh na hÉireann. With a long-awaited tribunal and an independent review by a senior barrister, there is both hope and scepticism that systemic issues can be addressed some 24 years after accounts of sexism and violence were first reported.
A culture of discrimination, bullying, sexual assault and harassment within Ireland’s Defence Forces (DF) was revealed over two decades ago by then Army Captain Tom Clonan – now an Independent Senator – as part of his PhD thesis in 2000.
“The initial reaction from military authorities was one of absolute rejection and denial,” Clonan told ‘Emergency Services Ireland’. “They made no attempts to address the substance of the findings”, which were “fully vindicated” in a subsequent independent inquiry.
More than two decades later, the Women of Honour (WoH) came forward with their own experiences of sexual harassment and bullying within the military, and how complaints were covered up and victims punished for speaking out, in what Clonan called a “game changer.”
However, retired Army Captain and WoH spokesperson Diane Byrne questions whether there “really is the appetite to do what’s needed” to address these issues. “[When] the Women of Honour came out, they said, ‘Oh, my God, isn’t this absolutely dreadful?’ Tom Clonan’s thesis report over 20 years old, and the same thing was said then….and ‘Oh, let’s bury that, let’s stop looking,’” she told ‘Emergency Services Ireland’.
The 2023 report from the Independent Review Group (IRG), which was established in response to the WOH’s revelations, found that “at best, the Defence Forces barely tolerates women and, at its worst, verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses” female members.
It detailed out-of-date HR practices, the view that women are of a lower status and that there is “no point” complaining. It recommended establishing an oversight committee and a statutory inquiry and removing complaint management from officers.
The findings “paint a very worrying picture of the culture of the organisation,” Clonan said, adding: “A lot of young soldiers, sailors and air crew over that 20-year period…were exposed to harm, life-limiting and life-altering harm, unnecessarily. It could have been avoided, could have been prevented.”
Fifteen months later, in June 2024, Army Private Cathal Crotty received a suspended sentence for beating Natasha O’Brien unconscious in an attack that he boasted about on social media.
O’Brien’s willingness to go public triggered protests and led to his eventual dismissal from the DF. Tánaiste and Defence Minister Micheál Martin then called for a review of serving members charged with offences which revealed that in the last three years, 68 have been convicted or are before the courts.
“Why did it take that for them to suddenly have a report?” Byrne asked. “We’ve laid this out on the table to them many times. I’ve explained issues of civilian personnel who are, at this very moment, being terrorised by members of the Defense Forces, and they’re well aware of this.”
Just two other DF members have been dismissed over domestic, sexual or gender-based violence since 2016. Other perpetrators are still serving, including a Naval Service officer – and heavyweight boxer – who in 2023 pled guilty to an assault on his ex-girlfriend, which included 5-10 punches to the head. The DF said in June that “an administrative process is ongoing” in his case, almost a year after his conviction.
Of the 68 cases, some of which Martin described as “very grave”, five relate to sexual assault, approximately six concern domestic incidents or barring orders, and around 24 relate to assault.
Martin has appointed senior barrister Peter Ward to examine how the DF deals with members with criminal convictions. Citing “gross mistrust” in such reviews’ independence, Byrne noted: “A lack of transparency, countless examples of cover-ups, victim blaming, numerous past reviews which have achieved very little, and a deliberate siloed approach to problems: these all directly impact the faith held by the general public.”
She believes the review should also look at how the DF deals with accusations and complaints made about its members, not just incidents that have made it to court and resulted in convictions.
“How many people have tried to fight within the system and not gotten anywhere because there wasn’t enough proof? How many do the Defence Forces know about?” Byrne said. “I have people that I’ve sat with, meeting the Defence Forces, and they can’t get anywhere.”
