Irish Examiner view: The Women of Honour are correct — only a statutory inquiry will suffice

A State inquiry could help bring about meaningful, positive change in the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence

The Independent Review Group report revealed a litany of abuses within the Defence Forces. Stock picture

The revelations this week about the sheer extent of abuse in the Defence Forces were shocking. The findings of an independent review group listed issues of sexual abuse and misconduct which suggested a toxic working environment — one so dysfunctional, in fact, that it looked in need of that reliable old solution: root-and-branch reform.

The sense that sweeping change is needed hardened even further with the comments of Defence Forces chief of staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, who said he was unaware of abuse and sexual assaults against members of the military during his almost 40-year career.

Those comments raised eyebrows among some observers. Clancy has commended the Women of Honour for their role in exposing the abuses and has pledged to end such behaviour in the Defence Forces, but allegations of such abuse were a matter of public record for quite some time, as proved by the Taoiseach himself yesterday.

Citing specific, well-publicised incidents of abuse and misconduct, Mr Varadkar added: “I think all of us were aware of it, in that sense.”

The Taoiseach was swift to say he has confidence in Lt Gen Clancy to lead the change that is required in the Defence Forces following the report from the independent review group’s findings, and the chief of staff has only been in place for just over a year.

However, the announcement of a statutory inquiry into the physical and sexual abuse that occurred in the Defence Forces is a more appropriate way to approach this matter than leaving it to internal review.

As pointed out by the Women of Honour group, a statutory inquiry would investigate the military hierarchy, the Department of Defence, and the military system in its entirety — and hopefully bring about meaningful, positive change.