Sacked army lieutenant to get fresh review 41 years on

A FORMER army lieutenant who has spent 41 years fighting to clear his name after being sacked from the defence forces without explanation will have a fresh review of his case.

The Government is to ask the army’s legal officer, the Judge Advocate General (JAG), to oversee a review of all documentation relating to Donal de Roiste who was involuntarily retired from the army in 1969.

Mr de Roiste, 65, from Ballincollig, Co Cork, was never charged with an offence, was denied a chance to face his accusers and was turned down the opportunity for a court martial.

Records from the time claim he was seen in the company of members of an IRA splinter group but Mr de Roiste says he was never given a proper chance to refute the allegations.

Mr de Roiste welcomed anything that would help clear his name.

“I was an innocent man. I never got to face my accusers or see what the charges were against me but for 40 years I have had to deal with there’s ‘no smoke without fire’.”

Mr de Roiste said he hoped to get a personal hearing with an independent reviewer but the Government says he will be asked to make a written submission and that the JAG will select a nominee to conduct the review.

Mr de Roiste’s case returned to the spotlight when his sister, Chernobyl Children’s Project founder, Adi Roche, ran for President in 1997 – a tactic he says was used to damage her by suggesting her brother associated with terrorists.