Army bullying ‘rehash’

SENIOR Defence Forces personnel are reported to be deeply angry at what is described as the “rehashing” of old claims of serious bullying and sexual harassment.

The claims that a quarter of all personnel were bullied and harassed, escalating to 70% among females, were raised in the Dáil as the Minister of Defence Willie O’Dea fielded questions for the first time.

But a Defence Forces spokesman said yesterday: “We have taken these things on. We have been very robust in the way that we have addressed them.”

Dinny McGinley, Fine Gael’s outgoing spokesman on defence, admitted his comments in the Dáil were based on a report published two years ago.

He said the Defence Forces were addressing the issues. But Mr McGinley added that a number of people, particularly younger personnel, had contacted him in recent months and complained of being pressured and bullied.

The issues of bullying, harassment and even sexual assault were first raised by a former member in a thesis published three years ago. The Defence Forces responded with their own commissioned report which confirmed many of the claims.

Last month, the Defence Forces unveiled what had been done in response to that second report. Measures included new training schemes, a counselling service and the deployment of personnel to act as contacts for individuals who feel they have been bullied or harassed.