Defence Forces Tribunal: Soldier breaks down as he recounts last words of apprentice before his death

Soldier told tribunal teenage army recruit, who allegedly had been subjected to prolonged humiliation by officer, asked him: 'How can 52 lads be so wrong and one man be so right?'

Defence Forces Tribunal witness Damien Traynor. Picture: Neil Michael.

“How can 52 lads be so wrong and one man be so right?” 

These were the last words spoken by a teenage army recruit ​ordered by an officer to sing nursery rhymes and kiss other male recruits before he shot himself​ while on army sentry duty at Devoy Barracks in Naas, Co Kildare.