An independent report into allegations of sexual abuse within the Defence Forces has found it is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.
Barrister Ruth Fitzgerald conducted an independent assessment of actions following correspondence received from retired army sergeant Anthony O’Brien. He sent over 2,000 documents to the Minister for Defence including information alleging sexual abuse, rape and incest over four decades in the Defence Forces.
In total there were details of 61 offences alleged to have been committed in the workplace against 19 females and 33 males. Ms Fitzgerald’s report, seen by the Sunday Mirror and due for publication next week, says the level of abuse was likely to have been far higher.
She concludes: “In light of the methods used by Mr O’Brien to collect information... ie via social media... the allegations forwarded by Mr O’Brien can be assumed to represent only a small part of the actual sexual abuse that likely occurred in the Defence Forces in the period in question.”
In her report, comimssioned by the Minister for Defence, she described the allegations as “serious” and noted that they included “incest and rape”. Mr O’Brien, 66, from Ballyfermot in Dublin, retired in 2003.
He had called for a Government inquiry to investigate allegations of systemic child sexual abuse at the country’s biggest army base, the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare. He told the Sunday Mirror: “I was stunned the report highlighted the amount of army sex abuse I brought forward is low compared to the volume that has taken place.
“It is shocking to find that out.” Mr O’Brien described the report’s recommendation for victims to go to gardai and the Department of Defence not to engage further with him as an attempt to shut him down.
He added: “At no point was it mentioned that my actions should be acknowledged for getting the army sex abuse out in the open for discussion.
“The Women of Honour [group] was formed after initially making contact with me.”
Separately, last year Defence Minister Simon Coveney sanctioned an independent review into allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and harassment in the Defence Forces.
The Women of Honour group described the process as “pointless” and “shameful” and called for a full statutory inquiry.
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