Women of Honour ‘disappointed’ over tribunal funding dispute

Women of Honour members former army captain Diane Byrne, retired captain Yvonne O’Rourke, and retired corporal Roslyn O’Callaghan. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The Women of Honour group is refusing to attend the Defence Forces Tribunal in a dispute over funding for its participation.

The Government established a Tribunal of Inquiry to examine allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying, and discrimination in the Defence Forces following the recommendations of an independent review group, which came after reports of abusive behaviour were made by Women of Honour.

The group is seeking state funding for its participation in the tribunal and is currently seeking a judicial review into the matter.

The tribunal entered its second day of public oral hearings on Thursday — with the continued absence of representation for the Women of Honour.

The group said it does not “feel it is appropriate to attend the tribunal at this time given the extraordinary current funding situation”.

In a statement, Women of Honour said: “As the advocacy group that sought and fought for the statutory inquiry, it is ironic now that those being investigated have the resources and we have none.

“There is a fundamental flaw in the tribunal process in Ireland where those being investigated are also the sponsoring department of an investigation into itself and its agencies.”

The group said it had advocated for an independent body to decide who gets funding, or for it to fall under the Department of Taoiseach or Tánaiste.

It added: “Our judicial review seeks interim funding to be given to us by the minister for defence.

“To date and after more than a year of applications, we have been constantly refused.

“As the tribunal has moved to oral hearings, it is disappointing we are not represented.”

Women of Honour said it “is not right” that the Department of Defence would have control over funding of groups for the tribunal.

“For victims, the refusal to grant the same standing on funding as those being investigated is compounding the trauma, stress, hurt and pain.

“It implies the victims are not central to this inquiry, but somehow peripheral.

“It appears as more punishment for having had the nerve to seek a statutory Tribunal of Inquiry.”

The Department of Defence and tribunal have been contacted for comment.