Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin appoints Senior Counsel

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin today, after consultation with the Attorney General, announced the appointment of Senior Counsel Peter Ward to urgently examine the administration of cases involving Defence Forces personnel charged or convicted of criminal offences.

The Senior Counsel will be asked to come back with recommendations on the management of these cases and any enhanced powers that may be necessary to improve processes, regulations, legislation and reporting arrangements.

The Tánaiste also revealed he has instructed officials to ensure any Defence Forces personnel currently convicted of, or before the courts on, serious sexual assault or rape is immediately removed from active service, without prejudice to their case.

This can be implemented through implementation of a current mechanism known as ‘local leave’.

The Tánaiste said:

“I am appointing a Senior Counsel Peter Ward to examine the administration of these cases within the Defence Forces in a comprehensive and independent manner, and to revert back to me with recommendations.

“I have also instructed my officials to make sure that any person currently involved in a case in respect of sexual assault or rape is placed on what is termed local leave, without prejudice to the final outcome of their case.

I’m satisfied that current mechanisms do exist to deal with very serious offenses such as sexual assault.”

The Tánaiste last week requested a report from the Chief of Staff on how many serving members of the Defence Forces have civil convictions, or are before the civil courts on serious criminal offences.

The audit, received this week, revealed that there are 68 Defence Forces personnel who have been convicted, or are currently before the civil courts, on a range of criminal offences including sexual offences, physical assault, public order, drink driving and drugs offences.

The Tánaiste has sought legal advice from the Attorney General in relation to this report.

Note to Editors

Since the Tánaiste became Minister for Defence 18 months ago, he made his absolute priority the urgent transformation in the culture of Ireland’s Defence Forces.

The change underway is the most profound transformation in the history of the Defence Forces.

This includes;

• The Judge-led Statutory Tribunal of Inquiry under Ms Justice Ann Power to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces concerning workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

• An External Oversight Body to oversee implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group Report, chaired by Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon, which was accepted by Government in full.

• Since April 2023 referral of all alleged sexual offences with the Defence Forces to be investigated to the Gardaí.