‘Participation in battlegroups must be voluntary’

IRELAND’S role in the new EU Battlegroups could be put in doubt if a row over mandatory participation is not sorted out, it emerged yesterday.

The association, representing rank-and-file members of the Defence Forces, yesterday warned it would go to the courts if necessary to ensure members were not compelled to serve in Battlegroups.

PDFORRA, the association for soldiers, airmen and sailors, asserted that participation in overseas missions was voluntary, except where it was a UN peacekeeping operation.