Yvonne O’Rourke, a member of the Women of Honour and a former Air Corps Captain who was sexually assaulted by a senior officer while she served in the Defence Forces, writes for IrishTimesOpEd
We are very aware that there is a marathon ahead of us as we strive to achieve the impossible, but I, and others like me, have been training for this moment all of our lives. Change is about to happen, something positive is about to occur and we can all feel it. This is the time – history will be made; new shoots of hope are emerging.
Ministers have known for years what has been going on in terms of sexual and other abuses. I myself wrote a protected disclosure in January 2017 reporting the sexual abuse, discrimination and bullying I had suffered. Yet nothing happened to change the culture in the Defence Forces up to now. Why?I won in the Workplace Relations Commission in December 2020 brought some people in the Defence Forces a glimmer of hope – solace in a dark period of their lives. I thank God each day for that victory.
Although the independent review was something that the WoH did not support, we did encourage people to tell their stories at this forum. I applaud their courage, conviction and bravery for telling their raw truths and bearing their souls openly. They have created a united voice which highlighted the extent of the untold pain and suffering our soldiers endured in our Defence Forces.
However, now we must remember that justice delayed is justice denied. Time is of the essence as reform is desperately needed for the current members of the Defence Forces.
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