Simon Coveney pledges to urgently address abuse allegations raised by Women of Honour 

Diane Byrne, Karina Molloy and Yvonne O Rourke at The Department of Foreign Affairs for a meeting with Defence Minister Simon Coveney. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Defence Minister Simon Coveney has pledged to the Women of Honour that issues they raised about systemic discrimination and sexual abuse in the Defence Forces will be "urgently" addressed through an independent review.

Distressing allegations of rape, sexual assault, bullying and discrimination in the Defence Forces were made by numerous women in the RTÉ radio documentary, Women of Honour.