Should those convicted of serious crimes remain in the Irish Defence Force

Julieanne Corr & Ken Foxe, Cast convicts out of army, urges Natasha O’Brien. The Sunday Times, 8 September 2024.

Natasha O’Brien, who was beaten unconscious by an Irish soldier in 2022, said she was “absolutely devastated” to learn that three other recruits convicted of assault in the past four years were still in the Defence Forces. 

The Defence Forces have said that of 79 troops found guilty of crimes under civil and military law over the past four years, 54 of them remain in service.. . .

Earlier this year, Simon Harris, the taoiseach, said any member of the Defence Forces with a criminal conviction should not remain in the organisation. However, new data shows of the eight members of the Defence Forces convicted of assault over the past four years, three who continue serving.The data also shows soldiers convicted of offences including misuse of drugs, assault, breaches of Covid-19 restrictions, and robbery or burglary are still serving.