Judge gives two soldiers chance to save army careers

Two soldiers involved in a violent drink-fuelled fight have been given a chance to stay in the Defence Forces after a judge gave them non-custodial sentences.

The court heard they had faced being automatically discharged from the army if they received custodial sentences, suspended sentences or fines of over €800. They will now face an army disciplinary tribunal.

Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-and-a-half-year “deferred sentence” on Andrew Gilmore, aged 25, who was judged to have played the more serious role in the attack.