Army captain pleads guilty at court-martial over transport of cigarettes from Middle East 

Captain Catherine Lundon pleaded guilty to a single count of engaging in conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to Section 168 of the Defence Act 1954. Picture: Colm Mahady / Fennells

An army captain has appeared before a court-martial over allegations she arranged for an unauthorised quantity of cigarettes to be placed on board a military flight home from the Middle East three years ago.

Captain Catherine Lundon, a transport officer attached to the 2nd Brigade in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines, was originally due to face six charges in relation to the transport of a large quantity of cigarettes on a military aircraft when she appeared before a summary court-martial in Dublin on Wednesday.

Capt Lundon, a native of Mullingar, Co Westmeath, had originally pleaded not guilty to all charges but, following a lengthy adjournment, she was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to a single count of engaging in conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to Section 168 of the Defence Act 1954.

The offence related to the dispatching of a quantity of cigarettes above the quantity permitted under UN standing orders in a red suitcase that was placed on board a Casa military aircraft between October 31 and November 1, 2018.

The incident occurred while Capt Lundon was serving with the 112th Infantry Battalion on UN peacekeeping duties in South Lebanon at a UN post in At Tiri.

No prosecution in five other charges

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Brennan BL for the Director of Military Prosecutions, consented to a nolle prosequi (no prosecution) being entered in relation to four other Section 168 charges including one relating to a bottle of vodka as well as a separate charge relating to the unauthorised carrying of goods on an aircraft contrary to Section 150 of the Defence Act.

The summary court-martial sitting at the Military Justice Centre in McKee Barracks in Dublin heard about 30 witnesses had been expected to be called in the trial, which was scheduled to last four days.

The military judge for the Defence Forces, Colonel Michael Campion, adjourned the case for sentencing until October 8.

In a similar fashion to criminal trials, the court-martial system was introduced to provide a mechanism for the enforcement of military law in the Defence Forces.

Military law is largely governed by a system of rules and regulations contained in the Defence Act 1954, which includes many offences, such as insubordinate behaviour and malingering (feigning illness to avoid duty), which are not offences under ordinary criminal law.

Under legislation, a conviction for the offence of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline can result in sanctions including dismissal and a maximum prison sentence of six months.