Last week Defence Forces Chief of Staff said there were 68 members who had been recently convicted of crimes or were before the courts charged with criminal offences
Defence Forces management rely on individual members to inform them if they are facing charges in civilian courts. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins DublinThis is because Defence Forces management rely on individual members to inform them if they are facing charges in civilian courts. If a soldier, sailor or aircrew opts not to inform their superior, there is often no way of knowing about or recording a charge against them.
It is possible the actual number of outstanding cases is much higher. As it stands, the Defence Forces has no way of telling if the current figure is accurate. “The only way would be to vet every single member again, which would be a massive task and would take a long time,” said a source. As with the criminal courts, the family courts do not automatically alert the Defence Forces if one of its members is subject to a barring or safety order as a result of domestic violence allegations.. Gardaí are legally required to disclose to their employer the existence of an order against them. But there is no system in place to ensure they do and the family court’s in-camera rule legally prohibits it from informing Garda or Defence Forces management of an order against a member.
The Tánaiste has announced a range of measures in response to the controversy, including ordering a full review of the number of convicted personnel going back several years. He has also appointed a senior counsel, Peter Ward, to conduct a “comprehensive and independent” examination of the administration of such cases within the Defence Forces.
Simon-Harris Micheal-Martin An-Garda-Siochana
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