Army instructor cupped breast of female recruit during first-aid training

The victim had told the court martial: "I felt very uncomfortable and was a little bit in shock and did not know how to react."

During a three-day trial before the summary court martial in the Military Justice Centre at McKee Barracks in Dublin last month, evidence was heard that the instructor was teaching a first-aid course to a group of female recruits and was giving a practical demonstration in methods to prevent choking when the sexual assault happened. File photo

An army instructor who cupped the breast of a female recruit during a first-aid demonstration at a military barracks several years ago has been found guilty of sexual assault by a military court.

The non-commissioned officer, who cannot be named to protect the identify of his victim, was also found guilty of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline contrary to Section 168 of the Defence Act 1954 for placing his groin into the back of his victim during the same demonstration while remarking: “I would not stand like that as it looks wrong.” However, the soldier was found not guilty of a similar charge for remarking: “She has certainly done that before”, when another female recruit pretended to remove a shirt from a mannequin during the same training session.