Defence Forces Tribunal: Soldiers prescribed anti-malarial drug despite mental health history

The Defence Forces Tribunal is investigating the effectiveness of complaints processes within the Defence Forces and the institution’s culture regarding complaints of abuse. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

A number of soldiers told the Defence Forces Tribunal they were prescribed an anti-malarial drug with known psychiatric side-effects despite having a history of mental illness.

The tribunal is investigating the effectiveness of complaints processes within the Defence Forces and the institution’s culture regarding complaints of abuse.

Former soldier Alan Byrne told the tribunal of experiencing “anxiety, mostly nightmares” and suicidal ideation after being prescribed the drug Lariam when deployed to Chad for four months in 2010.

He said that, despite having seen a psychiatrist after his family house burned down in 2007, his history of poor mental health was not taken into consideration by the Defence Forces medical staff.

Mr Byrne told the tribunal, chaired by Court of Appeal Justice Ann Power, that he had been informed by a superior officer when returning from Chad not to say anything about the side-effects he was suffering from Lariam. If he did so, “I wouldn’t get to go overseas again”.

The witness noted that he had subsequently given an interview to a newspaper about his experience of Lariam, after which his relationship with his superiors rapidly deteriorated and he was subsequently “treated with disdain” by senior officers.

He said  he had gone absent without leave for 16 months and been confined to barracks for a number of months. 

He said he had received unpleasant assignments such as working in a recycling centre “sorting cans” after the article was published, and had been given weekend duties which prevented him from seeing his son, to whom he had court-ordered access rights.

Mr Byrne said he had received no training regarding complaints processes within the Defence Forces, though he acknowledged he had accessed its personnel support services on several occasions.

Asked what changes he would like to see in how complaints are handled within the Defence Forces, Mr Byrne — who was discharged in 2015 — said he favours the creation of an independent body, adding that “everyone knows your business in the Defence Forces”.

'Crazy dreams'

The tribunal later heard from Martin Connor, who served within the Defence Forces between 1988 and 2011, including multiple tours overseas.

Mr Connor said that early in his time with the Defence Forces, he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after deployment in Lebanon. He also survived a suicide attempt and was treated for mental health issues within the forces, including a stay at St Bricin’s military hospital at Arbour Hill.

About 10 years later, Mr Connor was deployed, along with his brother, to Liberia, where he was also prescribed Lariam.

He said he and his colleagues would suffer from “crazy dreams”, hallucinations, and nightmares in the wake of being prescribed the drug.

Lariam has long been documented for the potential of causing severe psychiatric side-effects in individuals with a history of mental illness — including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

Mr Connor said the culture in the Defence Forces was that you did not raise issues. “I’d learned that if you complained about something you’d be the one it would come back on.

“I would never say anything because... nine times out of ten it would come back on you,” he said.

Mr Connor said that on the tour of Liberia, “everyone was blaming Lariam” for the changes seen in soldiers’ behaviour but that the situation with the drug was treated “as a joke” by those concerned.

He said he had never made a complaint while enlisted, but had taken a civil court action regarding his prescription of Lariam following his discharge.

Mr Connor said that if you complained about any issue within the Defence Forces, then “you wouldn’t be able to progress with promotion, you wouldn’t get courses” that you might have applied for.

“You couldn’t tell them because you’d be afraid of what would happen to your career,” he said.

Mr Connor added that any complaints process within the Defence Forces should be held “off-base”, where “nobody knows your business”.