‘Your chance to be heard’ – people urged to engage with Defence Forces tribunal

A public tribunal into bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment in the Defence Forces has held its opening session where it urged people to come forward.

A retired army captain said she hoped people would engage and go on to live their lives “without the weight of trauma hanging around their necks”.

The inquiry will examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces concerning workplace issues dating as far back as 1983 and stretching into other jurisdictions.

People with information into such allegations are being urged to engage with the tribunal before August 16.

They are being asked to write “comprehensive” statements and submit them to the tribunal, after which statements will be organised and public hearings will be held.

The judge leading the inquiry, Ms Justice Ann Power, said: “This is the opportunity to be heard.”

Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Micheal Martin signed a statutory instrument to establish the tribunal on Thursday.

It follows an independent review group report which found a “discernible pattern of rape and sexual assault” in its analysis of participants’ contributions.

The tribunal will also have the power to investigate the response to complaints made regarding the use of hazardous chemicals within Air Corps’ headquarters at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.

In her opening statement on Monday, the judge said that being a person of honour means “standing up for the truth, the whole truth, even if standing alone”.

“Establishing the truth, however worrying or reassuring that truth may be, is what this tribunal has been tasked to do,” the judge said.

She said the terms of reference for the inquiry were “expressed in clear language” and do not appear to need a “technical” interpretation.

She urged all those who are working or have worked in the Defence Forces, including civilians, and who have relevant knowledge or material, to contact the tribunal at the earliest opportunity.

She said some have already indicated a willingness to speak and show their knowledge.

The judge said the tribunal had sought appropriate assurances that any serving member of the Defence Forces will not be penalised for coming forward, which it said it had received from the Minister for Defence and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

“These assurances should provide some comfort to serving members of the Defence Forces who have been reluctant to speak before now, but who may wish to have their voices heard at this stage,” Ms Power said.

The tribunal seeks to have “as clear and as true a picture as possible of the reality in the Defence Forces” pertaining to the matters which it must investigate, she said.

She outlined the five phases to how the tribunal will carry out its work.

Phase one will involve information being sent to the tribunal by close of business on August 16.

Phase two will see the tribunal assess all the documentation and information it has received, and then determine what evidence is relevant.

Phase three will see the tribunal “serve the evidence on the people who are likely to be affected by it”, who will be given a chance to consider it.

Phase four will involve oral hearings held in public, unless the tribunal decides it is in the public interest or “expedient” to hold it in private.

Phase five will see a report prepared after the hearings, which will include recommendations, and be given to the Taoiseach.

The tribunal must conclude its work no later than three years from the date it was established.

Retired army captain and spokeswoman for the Women of Honour support group, Diane Byrne, said it was an emotional day.

“We’re hoping for the truth,” she said. “We’re very focused on the work. I’ve more of a logical perspective on this, I’m still rolling up our sleeves, but absolutely, we’ve worked so hard to get to this point.

“There’s so many people who have worked so hard and so long to get us here. We’re standing on their shoulders at this point, so for everybody it’s an emotional day.”

She added: “Getting people to be heard, to feel that they’re heard, to take that silence away that we’ve always had.

“Putting a voice to something that you’ve buried and that you’ve held alone for so long, and joining with other people, it’s having a huge effect.

“So I would ask people to really consider coming forward because the freedom that comes from eliminating misplaced self-blame or shame that people are feeling when they have no need to be feeling that, to step out into the light and say ‘no, that’s not ok’, that’s very, very powerful.”

Asked about the assurances the tribunal judge received from the Minister for Defence and Chief of Staff about protections for serving members who come forward, she said: “It’s something that we’ve asked for, it’s very hard to understand how that’s going to happen, we have to take them at their word.

“There’s going to be a trust issue there, and people are going to have to take a leap of faith on this, but if enough people take a leap of faith and step forward, not everybody can be penalised for having come forward.

“Now is the opportunity, in a very structured process, to be able to have your say and know that it’s down on paper, that you’re safe.”