An investigation looking into the number of individuals convicted of criminal offences serving in the Defence Forces is nearing its conclusion for Irish Prime Minister. It is believed that 20 incidents of concern have been identified.
Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, the Chief of Staff of Defence Forces, ordered a comprehensive enumeration of all personnel with convictions or pending charges on Sunday. This directive was circulated throughout the entirety of the Defence Forces, including all brigades and units.
The investigation was required due to the decentralised nature of the records pertaining to criminal convictions and ongoing cases, which are usually stored within the respective brigades, rather than at the central Defence Forces Headquarters.
Following an examination of the data on Monday and Tuesday, the most serious incidents were flagged up.
Prime Minister is set to receive the report urgently from Lieutenant General Clancy as it details incidents that could bring the Defence Force’s reputation into jeopardy, as claimed by military insiders.
While the preliminary report has brought to light 20 potentially damaging cases, military insiders have also emphasised that some of them refer to charges yet to be resolved, or others that are already undergoing military disciplinary procedures. Clarity is still lacking about whether all these cases pertain solely to instances of gender-based violence.
Earlier, Premier Simon Harris expressed his frustration to the Dáil about the lack of comprehensive data on the number of Defence Forces staff holding civilian criminal convictions. Harris voiced his disappointment about the unknown number of current Defence Forces members with criminal record and deemed it unacceptable in the eyes of the government and parliament.
The Prime Minister requested that the Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin receive a report relating to this issue.
Harris then insinuated that anyone convicted of a crime within the Defence Forces ought to be removed, while also adding his deep reverence for the majority who serve the Defence Forces honorably, both domestically and internationally.
He concluded his statement by noting the possible threat to Defence Forces’ reputation due to misconduct by a minority, or inaction by others.
At the Dáil, comments were made as Natasha O’Brien, a victim of assault who had publicly opposed the fully suspended sentence given to her assailant, observed from the public audience. The assailant in question, Cathal Crotty (22), an active member of the Irish military, physically assaulted Natasha O’Brien (24) to the level she feared for her life. Crotty, of Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, openly gloated about the incident on social media. Providing a guilty plea for his actions in Limerick in 2022, against Ms O’Brien, he received a suspended sentence of three years.
The Taoiseach, in response to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald’s raising of Ms O’Brien’s case, stated his limitation regarding comments yet, he implied the possibility of further legal action in the case. He also suggested the DPP retains the authority to contest any handed down sentence.
Members of the Dáil then stood to honour Ms O’Brien with an ovation, followed by Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghail expressing the assembly’s support for her, saying, “We are on your side.”