Department 'very concerned' by allegations of sexual abuse within the Defence Forces

Opposition calls for independent enquiry into allegations aired in RTÉ radio documentary, 'Women of Honour'

Defence Forces personnel on a training exercise. The Department of Defence says it is very concerned at the allegations, raised this weekend, of sexual abuse within the Defence Forces. File picture

The Department of Defence says it is "very concerned" over allegations of sexual abuse within the Defence Forces, and Minister Simon Coveney was "aware" of some of the complaints made.

A call for a full independent inquiry from the opposition came following the broadcast yesterday of the RTÉ radio documentary Women of Honour, which featured first-hand accounts by female Defence Forces members of alleged sexual assault and harassment by male colleagues and superiors.