Gunner jailed for going AWOL among 2013 courts martial penalties

Assault, theft, and fraud are among the offences that resulted in members of the Defence Forces facing courts-martial last year, while one soldier was jailed for three days for going absent without leave (AWOL).

Figures from the Defence Forces show eight members of the military faced courts-martial last year and five other members had appeals heard regarding earlier sanctions.

Last year was the first full year since 2009 in which there was a military judge in situ for the whole 12 months. Michael Campion began hearing cases in September 2012 after a two-year period in which just three cases had been heard by an interim judge.