Defence Forces Abuse Complaints Hearing Underway in Dublin

A public hearing has commenced to scrutinize the Defence Forces' handling of abuse complaints spanning a forty-year period, from 1983 to 2024. The inquiry, chaired by Ms Justice Ann Power, is taking place in Smithfield, Dublin, and aims to address systemic issues within the military.

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whether there was a culture that discouraged complaints of abuse.

More than 200 witnesses have submitted statements to the Tribunal of Inquiry. These include individuals from the Women of Honour Group, personnel exposed to chemicals in the Air Corps, and those who experienced adverse effects from the anti-malaria drug Lariam. The breadth of these statements indicates a wide range of alleged mistreatment and systemic failures.

Senior counsel delivered an opening statement, outlining the tribunal's structure and the focus of the public hearing. The initial module will investigate whether complaints were actively deterred or if a culture within the Defence Forces discouraged individuals from reporting abuse. This focus is deemed appropriate to hear from those who suffered abuse but did not complain or felt prevented from doing so.

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it is therefore appropriate to hear from those who suffered abuse but did not complain or believe they were deterred from making complaints.

Fifty-eight witnesses are scheduled to give evidence during this first module. A significant portion, 36 witnesses, will testify regarding incidents at Devoy Barracks in Naas. Additionally, six witnesses will address issues related to Lariam. Senior counsel noted that despite 225 proceedings initiated concerning Lariam by 2019, none of these individuals had filed a formal complaint with the Defence Forces, prompting the tribunal to investigate the reasons behind this.

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as of 2019, 225 proceedings have been taken in relation to the issue yet none of those who have taken cases made any complaint to the Defence Forces.