Ex-navy recruit was warned of 'conduct unbecoming' charge after getting pregnant, tribunal told

The Naval Base at Haulbowline, Co. Cork. Ms A said that when she went to a senior staff member for help with the way she was being treated, she was told if she couldn’t cope, she was 'in the wrong job'. File picture: Denis Minihane

A former member of the Naval Services has told the Defence Forces Tribunal she was warned she would be charged with conduct unbecoming after she became pregnant.

She said that while she did not receive the warning formally, she was told by colleagues. Her partner, who was an army officer, was also told the charge had been discussed.

She gave the testimony under direct examination from senior tribunal counsel Niall Beirne. She said that when she told senior members of staff at the time, “they weren’t happy, they weren’t happy”.

She added: “There was talk that they were going to charge me with conduct unbecoming.” Mr Beirne asked her: “For becoming pregnant?

She replied: “Yes. I heard it from other people. My partner, now my husband, was an army officer and he also heard it.” 

Ms A, who left the Naval Services early by buying herself out of her contract with a substantial amount of money provided by her parents, also told the tribunal she was the subject of repeated sexual assaults in her time in the navy.

The worst incident was where she woke up to find a fellow sailor had half stripped her and was on top of her. Other incidents included her being grabbed from behind by a sailor who used to also stick his tongue in her ear.

Another used to inform her that he was off to wash his “important places”. She said she would also be asked in front of other sailors about the type of underwear she was wearing, and that “if it was lacey” it would burn her skin.

Ms A said that when she went to a senior staff member for help with the way she was being treated, she was told if she couldn’t cope, she was “in the wrong job”. The tribunal heard the member of staff she was referring to has since denied this conversation ever took place.

Ms A said that she was too scared to complain or raise issues as she was routinely reminded that she shouldn’t “rock the boat”. “I thought there would be repercussions if I did and I didn't think I could realistically make complaints,” she told Mr Beirne.

She served for less than 10 years, and left more than 15 years ago. In that time, she told the tribunal she barely remembers any advice she received about the Naval Services complaints process.

She told the tribunal she suffered regular bullying and “exclusion”. She also said fellow sailors “would say unkind things about me, they would exclude me”.

Barrister Mark Harty, for the Women of Honour legal firm Malcomson Law, asked her if her time in the navy was the happiest of her life, and she replied: “No.” 

The tribunal was established in June 2024 by then Tánaiste and minister for defence Micheál Martin after a report of a review into allegations of brutal and “sadistic” abuse.

Those allegations, contained in the March 2023 Independent Review Group (IRG): Defence Forces Report, included the rape of both male and female soldiers.

The IRG report also found that while abuse was mainly carried out by male officers — 88% of female soldiers polled reported they had suffered abuse — female officers were also involved.