#Defence Forces

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Limerick hospital prepares rooms and operating theatre for possible Trump emergency
Limerick hospital prepares rooms and operating theatre for possible Trump emergency
US embassy officials have visited the hospital as staff prepare for a possible medical emergency involving the president during his Doonbeg visit

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

Phoenix Park Security for Trump
Focus on 'fixated individuals' and 'external threats' for Donald Trump visit
Gardaí and Defence Forces are preparing for protests, drone incursions and potential cyber threats during the president’s visit

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

Donald Trump visit to Ireland
Taoiseach says offshore counter-drone technology being pursued ahead of Trump visit
Micheál Martin says Ireland has strengthened its counter-drone capabilities as security preparations intensify for the US president’s visit

Wed, 09 Sep, 2026

Rise in Navy strength 'too slow' to reach Government target, officers' association says
Rise in Navy strength 'too slow' to reach Government target, officers' association says
Representatives say defence being done 'on the cheap' and call for €2bn budget

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Shoulder patch of a soldier from the Irish Army on camouflaged uniform.
Irish Examiner view: Defence is about people, not hardware
Ireland stands at a crossroads. Throwing millions at shiny hardware is not the answer while our barracks sit empty

Fri, 04 Sep, 2026

EU Flags Flying at the European Commission Building Brussels Belgium
'EU’s ability to respond to a foreign invasion by 2030 remains in doubt'
European court of auditors says the EU is much better prepared than before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine of 2022, but achieving its goal of defence readiness by the end of the decade would be difficult

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Charity to convert Cork City building into live-in facility for homeless Defence Forces veterans
Charity to convert Cork City building into live-in facility for homeless Defence Forces veterans
Building in St Luke’s, Cork, will operate as a homeless shelter that accommodates up to six former members of the Defence Forces

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Less than 5% chance of Naval Service applicants being accepted for cadet training
Less than 5% chance of Naval Service applicants being accepted for cadet training
In 2019, just eight of 192 people (4.1%) who applied to be a Naval Services officer were accepted for the three-month long cadet induction, with just five of 172 applications leading to inductions in 2023

Wed, 02 Sep, 2026

EU defence ministers meeting
Russia is escalating from hybrid threats to 'kinetic' attacks on Europe, EU ministers hear 
Russian incursions in Romania, Latvia, Estonia, and Germany were cited as Helen McEntee and Kaja Kallas spoke at the EU defence ministers' informal meeting in Wicklow

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Ireland is neutral and has 'better neighbours', says EU diplomatic chief as defence spending questioned
Ireland is neutral and has 'better neighbours', says EU diplomatic chief as defence spending questioned
Defence minister Helen McEntee said Ireland’s defence budget will continue rising as EU ministers discuss security threats facing Europe

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Donald Trump visit to Ireland
Inside the Defence Forces operation helping gardaí secure Ireland’s EU Presidency
New joint structures give Garda commanders real-time access to Defence Forces intelligence and land, sea and air capabilities during major events

Fri, 28 Aug, 2026

Defence Forces chief ordered to hand over files related to alleged sexual assault case
Defence Forces chief ordered to hand over files related to alleged sexual assault case
Defence Forces Tribunal lawyers made the order after receiving information about a series of complaints between 2005 and 2014 that relate to the officer

Fri, 28 Aug, 2026

Simon Harris visit to Lebanon
Call for more anti-drone measures for Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon
Former PDForra chief says Government must extend drone countermeasures provided to EU dignitaries to Ireland’s peacekeepers serving with Unifil  

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Defence Forces recruitment advertising costs €2.3m as strength rises by just 200
Defence Forces recruitment advertising costs €2.3m as strength rises by just 200
Defence minister Helen McEntee said 790 recruits joined last year, but departures limited overall growth to nearly 200 personnel

Thu, 13 Aug, 2026

Funeral of David Byrne
Daniel Kinahan extradition from Dubai shows there is 'no safe haven from justice' for gangland criminals
Fight carrying Daniel Kinahan back to Ireland scheduled to land at Casement Aerodrome at approximately 6.45pm on Sunday, sources say

Sun, 09 Aug, 2026

'You must speak up': Defence Forces launches campaign to tackle 'unacceptable behaviour'
'You must speak up': Defence Forces launches campaign to tackle 'unacceptable behaviour'
It follows an Independent Review Group report which included allegations of the rape of both male and female soldiers

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Ireland 'decades-behind' Europe in intelligence-gathering and contribution to EU security
Ireland 'decades-behind' Europe in intelligence-gathering and contribution to EU security
Irish publics has been led to believe neutrality is a 'shield against all foes' but this is not the case and Ireland is vulnerable to 'insidious threats' from malign actors, including cyber-attacks, political interference, industrial espionage, and online disinformation, security experts say

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Women of Honour group
Legal aid impasse likely to keep Women of Honour out of next Defence Forces Tribunal module
As a result of the legal aid impasse, the Women of Honour were not involved in the first public module

Tue, 04 Aug, 2026

Funeral of David Byrne
Daniel Kinahan faces return from Dubai after final extradition appeal fails
Preparations are expected to begin for Kinahan's return to Ireland, where he faces organised crime charges before the Special Criminal Court

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Helen McEntee Helen McEntee comments
Government clears path for purchase of long-range military radar system
Helen McEntee said Ireland expects to have the first elements of a new primary radar capability in place next year, with the full system operational by the end of 2028

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Private Sean Rooney inquest
Family of Seán Rooney, Irish soldier killed in Lebanon, seek expert witnesses at inquest
Private Seán Rooney, 24, from Donegal, was killed while driving an armoured Jeep on UNIFIL peacekeeping duties in Lebanon in December 2022

Wed, 29 Jul, 2026

Two arrested near border after gardaí intercept ‘highly sophisticated’ car bomb
New IRA suspected Garda resources were stretched by EU Presidency before explosives interception
Two people remain in custody after counter-terrorism officers intercepted an explosive device during a joint cross-border security operation

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026

Two arrested near border after gardaí intercept ‘highly sophisticated’ car bomb
Two arrested near border after gardaí intercept ‘highly sophisticated’ car bomb
Special Detective Unit operation in Co Monaghan led to the recovery of an explosive device and the arrest of two suspects

Fri, 24 Jul, 2026

Slievenamon wildfire
Slievenamon wildfire: Resident describes 'terrifying' blaze as smoke reaches Cork city
Firefighters, Air Corps crews and local volunteers continue battling the blaze as residents face evacuation fears and worsening conditions

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

€2.6m cyber defence facility expected to open in March next year 
€2.6m cyber defence facility expected to open in March next year 
Investment comes as gardaí advertise position of cyber security director

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Helen McEntee visit to Belfast
Irish army vehicles rejected by Ukraine stuck in limbo
The fleet of RG32M vehicles were rejected by the Ukrainian authorities due to the age of the technology, maintenance requirements, and the cost of upgrading the vehicles

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Shoulder patch of a soldier from the Irish Army on camouflaged uniform.
S Mick Clifford: Defence Forces abuse allegations demand more than another tribunal
Allegations of rape, bullying and abuse have reignited questions over accountability, culture and oversight within the Defence Forces

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

Ireland remains bottom of EU table for defence spending, new report shows
Ireland remains bottom of EU table for defence spending, new report shows
European Defence Agency figures show Ireland remains well below the EU average despite record increases in defence funding

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Soldier had to enter river where dead sheep was floating to get promotion, tribunal told
Soldier had to enter river where dead sheep was floating to get promotion, tribunal told
Another incident allegedly involved an officer, whom she had reported for aggressive behaviour towards a heavily pregnant private, subsequently attacking her in a corridor, slamming her against a wall and throwing her to the floor

Wed, 15 Jul, 2026

Defence Forces Tribunal special report: Why it was established, how much it cost, and what's next
Defence Forces Tribunal special report: Why it was established, how much it cost, and what's next
As hearings pause for summer, the inquiry has heard harrowing evidence while legal costs continue to rise

Sun, 12 Jul, 2026

Women of Honour group
Women of Honour call for stronger support for Defence Forces Tribunal witnesses
Survivors' groups say witnesses need dedicated trauma support and clearer pathways for reporting alleged criminal offences to gardaí

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

Defence Forces Tribunal: Former officer denies mistreatment as brigadier challenges training claims
Defence Forces Tribunal: Former officer denies mistreatment as brigadier challenges training claims
Former platoon commander's evidence was challenged as another senior officer disputed key claims about Army leadership training

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

Defence Forces Tribunal: Member of press office confirmed to give evidence next week
Defence Forces Tribunal: Member of press office confirmed to give evidence next week
Sergeant Rena Kennedy, who has worked in military communications for the past 21 years, is scheduled to appear on Wednesday, July 15

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Defence Forces Tribunal hears all records of official officer warnings were deleted in 1992
Defence Forces Tribunal hears all records of official officer warnings were deleted in 1992
Ordinarily, army admonishments or reprimands stay on a soldier’s record for five years

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

The Mick Clifford Podcast: The Defence Forces Tribunal that was two decades in the making
The Mick Clifford Podcast: The Defence Forces Tribunal that was two decades in the making
Allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse have called to mind the kind of army life that might have existed in a colonial force from the nineteenth century

 Listen | Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

 Listen |
Officer breaks down as he tells Defence Forces Tribunal soldier's suicide 'still affects me to this day'
Officer breaks down as he tells Defence Forces Tribunal soldier's suicide 'still affects me to this day'
'I'll be out straight with you, my mind was all over the place and I'd say every single individual in that platoon and who was on guard just didn't know whether they were coming or going.'

Wed, 08 Jul, 2026

Senior army officer rejects 'inaccurate' claim junior officers 'ill-equipped' to train recruits
Senior army officer rejects 'inaccurate' claim junior officers 'ill-equipped' to train recruits
Brigadier General Stephen Ryan told the Defence Forces Tribunal second lieutenants and lieutenants are 'trained to do their job, and part of their job is to do recruit training'

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Defence Forces officer denies abuse allegations at tribunal hearing
Defence Forces officer denies abuse allegations at tribunal hearing
Officer known as 2LTB tells tribunal he never mistreated recruits but admits he was ill-equipped for training role

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Tribunal barrister accuses Defence Forces of 'cover up' 
Tribunal barrister accuses Defence Forces of 'cover up' 
Aedan McGovern said the ​1991 investigation in​to alleged mistreatment of Damien Traynor was handled so badly he could only conclude 'the entire thing was a cover up'

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

'Deeply concerning': Defence Forces covering legal costs of accused officers at tribunal
'Deeply concerning': Defence Forces covering legal costs of accused officers at tribunal
Diane Byrne, of the Women of Honour, said complainants' legal costs are not being covered on a regular basis

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Gardaí will not tolerate motorway or port blockades during EU Presidency, commissioner says
Gardaí will not tolerate motorway or port blockades during EU Presidency, commissioner says
Commissioner says extensive planning, new equipment and international cooperation will underpin security during Ireland's six-month EU Presidency

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Russia Orthodox Easter
Dorcha Lee: The end of peace in Europe has completely exposed our depleted Defence Forces
Sticking with neutrality means robustly defending our neutrality, writes Dorcha Lee

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Defence Forces Tribunal: Soldier breaks down as he recounts last words of apprentice before his death
Defence Forces Tribunal: Soldier breaks down as he recounts last words of apprentice before his death
Soldier told tribunal teenage army recruit, who allegedly had been subjected to prolonged humiliation by officer, asked him: 'How can 52 lads be so wrong and one man be so right?'

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Great grandson of a hero from the siege of Jadotville among navy's new officer graduates
Great grandson of a hero from the siege of Jadotville among navy's new officer graduates
The siege of Jadotville saw around 155 Irish soldiers on a UN mission hold out for days against somewhere between 3,500 and 5,000 of the enemy in the Congo in 1961

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

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