SERVING SOLDIERS CLAIM SEX ASSAULTS
100 witnesses give evidence to independent review of Defence Forces, with two fresh attacks reported
AT LEAST two serving members of the Defence Forces have told an inquiry they were sexually assaulted on duty, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The witnesses gave testimony to the Independent Review Group set up by Defence Minister Simon Coveney to examine if there is a culture of bullying and sexual harassment in the Defence Forces.
They are among more than 100 witnesses who approached the review group to give evidence, according to a source.
Two of these witnesses alleged they were sexually assaulted on duty overseas while others alleged they were physically assaulted, the source said,
and other witnesses alleged they were targeted for speaking out.
This weekend the Department of Defence refused to answer any questions about complaints made to the Independent Review Group.
A spokesman for Mr Coveney said: ‘The judge-led Independent Review Group is undertaking its work independently of the Department of Defence and under its terms of reference. It is due to report to the minister before the end of the year.’
However, a source told the MoS: ‘At least 100 serving members and veterans of the Defence Forces have gone before the review.
‘Two of them told of how they were allegedly sexually assaulted while overseas. Others have told of how they were allegedly physically assaulted, and then others have outlined how they were targeted for speaking the truth and complaining.
‘All of these cases are welldocumented and the review group
‘The evidence they have got is beyond significant’
has also heard from dozens of former Defence Force members.
‘I would say, since April of this year, they have heard from a significant number of retired and serving members of the Defence Forces. The evidence they have got is beyond significant.’
The revelations come on the first anniversary of the broadcast of the Women Of Honour documentary by Katie Hannon on RTÉ radio, which exposed in harrowing detail claims by female former soldiers of how they were sexually assaulted, harassed and bullied while serving in the Defence Forces.
The Independent Review Group was established by Mr Coveney even though the women wanted a commission of inquiry instead.
Immediately after the broadcast last year, the Women of Honour group held high-profile meetings with Mr Coveney, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Michael D Higgins.
But the Government refused to hold a commission of inquiry into their claims and opted instead to hold a judge-led independent review.
It was tasked with examining ‘dignity and equality issues within the Defence Forces’.
And although former and serving members of the military were allowed to recall their experiences of alleged sexual harassment, bullying and assault, the review panel is not allowed to investigate individual cases.
Instead the team, led by retired judge Bronagh O’Hanlon, can only ‘determine whether a further body of work is required in relation to specific allegations’.
When the review group was established it was a threemember panel made up of judge O’Hanlon, barrister Mark Connaughton, and management consultant Jane Williams, former chairwoman of the Pensions Authority.
Don Hegarty, former human resources manager with brewers Beamish and Crawford, joined the review group during the summer.
However, the Department of Defence has refused to give any details as to how the business executive was appointed.
And last night it refused to answer any questions about how many serving and former members of the Defence Forces have already given testimony. Officials at Mr Coveney’s department also refused to provide any details about how many hours each member of the Independent Review Group has been contracted to sit each week.
Significantly, the department refused to divulge if the testimony of those who have given their accounts of alleged sexual assault, harassment, bullying and physical attacks will be archived or destroyed, like those of the people who gave testimony before the Mother and Baby Home Commission of Inquiry.
Bronagh O’Hanlon and her colleagues are due to produce a final report by the end of this year. It is understood they have already submitted an interim report.
A Women of Honour spokeswoman said: ‘We are delighted that the airing of the documentary gave serving members and veterans a platform and a voice to tell their stories.
‘However, we have yet to see real action and accountability. We are still of the view that the review is not enough and await the statutory inquiry that we have always sought from the outset.
‘We hope the Taoiseach will fulfil his promise that, if the IRG [Independent Review Group] determines it, a statutory inquiry will go forward sooner rather than later.’
The spokeswoman added: ‘The Women of Honour are aware that the IRG has forwarded its interim report to the minister.
‘Unfortunately we have not received the promised update the stakeholders were meant to receive.’
‘We have yet to see real action and accountability’