Ex-soldier on sex assault charges at military court
A FORMER member of the Defence Forces has appeared before a military court on charges of sexually assaulting two colleagues on a military base and simulating a sexual act in front of another soldier.
The accused pleaded not guilty to a total of eight charges at a court martial in the Military Justice Centre at Mckee Barracks in
Dublin.
These included three charges of sexual assault on two solider and three separate charges of assault on the same individuals.
All the alleged offences took place between 2am and 5.30am on November 13, 2021 at a time when the accused had been the victim of an alleged assault following a drunken row with a friend.
The name of the former NCO on trial and any military personnel involved in the case as well as the location of the military base cannot be published as a result of extensive reporting restrictions imposed by the military judge, Colonel Michael Campion.
The retired soldier is accused of two counts of sexually assaulting a female colleague by placing his hands on her legs without her consent and moving his right hand up her leg and sometime later making a similar gesture when he placed a hand on the inside of her leg and moved it towards her groin.
The defendant is also charged with assaulting her on two separate occasions over a period when she was trying to calm him down.
He is also charged with sexually assaulting a male soldier by placing his arms around him which caused the alleged victim to apprehend that the accused was trying to kiss him as well as assaulting him when he tried to hug the same individual.
The former NCO is also accused of two counts of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.
The limited court martial is expected to last over a week.