'Unprecedented' meeting to discuss how Defence Forces handles offenders
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The Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff has summoned senior officers to an “unprecedented” meeting on Friday to discuss how the army handles offenders among its ranks.
Sources say the meeting was sparked by the Taoiseach’s public condemnation of army officials who knew about the Cathal Crotty case but “did nothing”.
Simon Harris said it was “utterly unacceptable” that serving soldiers with convictions for gender-based violence could be allowed to “hide” in the Defence Forces.
Last week, a court heard that Crotty beat Natasha O’Brien unconscious in a random street attack, and boasted about it afterwards on social media. He walked free from court after getting a fully suspended sentence.
In response to questions around why disciplinary proceedings were only taken against Crotty after Crotty was sentenced, the Defence Forces has said current legislation means they cannot act until civil processes against them are completed.
It comes as an audit carried out by Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy found that 68 members of the Defence Forces have been convicted in the last three years or are currently before the courts on a range of criminal offences including public order, drink driving, drugs offences, physical assault and sexual offences.
Today's meeting is due to start around 10am and last around two hours. It is to be held at the Baldonnel Aerodrome airbase in south west Dublin. Such meetings where so many high-ranking officers meet are rare events.
Those told to attend include officers from the Army, the Naval Services and the Air Corps, and are said to include "all formation commanders", and the senior colonels in charge of principle units.
Lieutenant General Clancy is expected to admonish his junior officers for not telling him about serving soldiers with convictions or facing charges.
He is also expected to tell them that the crisis sparked by the Crotty case has seriously harmed the Defence Forces' reputation.
The Chief of Staff is expected to demand that a more detailed audit be carried out into serving soldiers, with a particular emphasis on gender-based violence.
He is also expected to demand a complete overhaul about how information is retained or shared on a local level in relation to soldiers who commit or who are accused of committing criminal offences.
More to follow...