In a stunning revelation, a report has disclosed that 68 members of the Irish Defence Forces have been convicted of crimes or are before the courts charged with a range of offences.
The 68 cases include drink driving, public order, drugs, physical assault, and sexual offences.
The report was provided to Tanaiste and Minister of Defence Micheal Martin in a report from Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy.
A spokesman for the Tanaiste said Martin had been “absolutely clear since becoming Minister for Defence 18 months ago on the need for urgent transformation of the culture in the Defence Forces.”
“He is adamant that the Defence Forces is a place where no one convicted of serious physical assaults, sexual offences or domestic or gender-based violence can continue to be in active service,” the spokesman was quoted as saying by The Irish Times.
In light of the controversy, Taoiseach Simon Harris said people with convictions should be removed from the Defence Forces.
The report also comes in the wake of the Natasha O’Brien case. Natasha saw a serving soldier who beat her unconscious walk free from court in Limerick last week, triggering widespread uproar across the country.