A FORMER SOLDIER who suffered alleged abuse throughout her 30-year career has launched a stinging criticism of Government ministers, including Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and a senior civil servant for how they handed complaints.
A FORMER SOLDIER who suffered alleged abuse throughout her 30-year career has launched a stinging criticism of Government ministers, including Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and a senior civil servant for how they handed complaints.
The book is a poignant telling of the highs of proud service, her close bonds with the men and women she served with but also the gut wrenching alleged abuse she suffered on a number of occasions. An Independent Review Group is due to present its findings to Cabinet in the coming weeks on the group’s claims. Sources have said they are anticipated to contain serious findings of abuse, and raise concerns that allegations were mishandled.Molloy’s book lays out how the Women of Honour women joined together and began the campaign to shine a light on the culture of omerta around abuse inside the Irish Defence Forces.
There was another incident where she said an officer attacked her and attempted to undress her while she was preparing for bed. On each occasion, Molloy states that when she complained about the various incidents, the military swept the incident under the carpet. “I think when the ministers sat back with the senior civil servant, they realised why they couldn’t do that inquiry: because it means everyone’s exposed, and the last two previous chiefs of staff may have faced action to have their Distinguished Service Medals taken off them because all these rapes and assaults happened on their watch.
Molloy believes that the Canadian model of an independent grievance procedure is critical to solving the problem in the Irish Defence Forces. She said that during the process she was asked by the IRG investigators to give her take on how the alleged toxic culture towards women in the Defence Forces could be solved.She said that she had come up with a number of recommendations, which includes the removal of responsibility for the grievance process from the officer ranks.
The Defence Forces, like other militaries across the globe, have their own military legal system to deal with complaints – known as courts martial. Molloy believes that is a serious impediment to dealing with the issue. Her memoir is a complex read at times, not a simple telling of life spent dealing with abuse. It is filled with nuance about military culture, the good and the bad of it, and pure honesty.
Molloy left the Defence Forces in February 2012. Her service was 30 years and 278 days in length. She said that as she walked away from handing back her uniform she felt “nothing but relief”. “This will ensure that the rights of all concerned are upheld, blame can be attributed, and sanctions can be imposed.
The DOD said that in “the duty of care obligations” to serving members, the then Minister for Defence Simon Coveney recommended to Government, the setting up of the Independent Review Group.The Department said that the report is due shortly, and will be considered in full by the Tánaiste, in consultation with the Attorney General, before bringing it to Government and its publication.
The measures included an Independent Confidential Contact Person for former and current members of the Defence Forces & 24/7 INSPIRE hotline.
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