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An organisation that 'barely tolerates' women: Report details extent of abuse in Defence Forces

The IRG report details a raft of structural failures in the organisation.

LAST UPDATE | 28 Mar 2023

THE LONG-AWAITED REPORT into bullying and abuse in the Irish Defence Forces has detailed a raft of structural failures in the organisation in its treatment of female members and in how it responds to allegations of bullying, harassment and abuse.

The report by the Independent Review Group (IRG) chaired by Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon, has made a series of recommendations including an oversight body and removing management of complaints from military officers.

It examines historical issues within the forces but also notes in its findings that there has been an increase in bullying and harassment in the Defence Forces in the last year.

The Independent Review Group was established by the Government in the wake of allegations of widespread sexual assault, bullying and harassment across the Irish military. 

The report, published at lunchtime, lays out the finding of the enquiry and a number of recommendations. 

In a stark paragraph around the subject of misogyny in the Defence Forces the report finds: “Different sources available to the IRG-DF conclude that, at best, the Defence Forces barely tolerates women and, at its worst, verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks.”

There are also findings of assaults during training in which military personnel were kicked during exercise and assaulted in shower facilities. 

The report also states that the Defence Forces must investigate suicides in the military. 

The report looked into the specifics of how misogyny in the Defence Forces affects its female members and documented reports of particular incidents, based on testimony from affected women.

“These disclosures are consistent with the survey data that 88% of females reported experiencing one or more forms of sexual harassment and that 46% reported experiencing unwanted physical contact/sexual assault.

“The implication is that not all female members experienced sexual harassment or sexual
assault. The same conclusion can be drawn from the data on other forms of unacceptable behaviour,” the report found. 

The IRG found also, in a section titled “The Defence Forces’ Gender Norms”, that much of the language of views used in the forces “have no place in a modern Irish workplace”.

Key findings:

  • bullying, harassment, discrimination and sexual harassment persist.
  • women are seen as occupying a lower status in the organisation.
  • it found that, not withstanding the nature of military work, men and women, are not working in a safe environment.
  • Respondents to the IRG said there was “no point” in making complaints.
  • Legislative frameworks and HR practices are not fit for purpose and out of date. 

Minister for Defence Micheál Martin said that at this morning’s Cabinet meeting Government agreed to progress, as a priority, the report’s recommendations.

The recommendations include the statutory inquiry to investigate whether there have been serious systemic failures in dealing with individual complaints, including sexual misconduct.

The setting up of an External Oversight Body to increase transparency and accountability and to drive necessary culture change throughout the Defence Forces.

The Minister also said that they would urgently reform the existing mechanisms for making a complaint to restore “faith and trust in the complaints process”.

The Government will also prepare legislation to establish an independent complaints mechanism for serving members of the Defence Forces.

New laws will be required to establish the External Oversight Body on a statutory basis.

Defence Act

The Defence Act, 1954 will have to be amended to allow all allegations of rape, or aggravated sexual assault in the Defence Forces in the State be referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation.

There will also be a significant programme of reform and culture change delivered by external experts, with measures to eradicate reprisals and retaliation, and develop new policies on gender, inclusion and diversity.

The report warns: “Change is required to rebuild what is clearly broken in existing systems. The recommendations in this report are radical and, if implemented, will be far-reaching.

“A failure to implement the recommendations will mean a further regression and the Defence Forces’ position could deteriorate beyond repair.”

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that the report is a “watershed moment”.

“Bullying, misogynistic behaviour, and any form of sexual misconduct is simply unacceptable, and has no place in a 21st century workplace.”

He also acknowledged the “courage by members of the Defence Forces in sharing their experiences” particularly the Women of Honour group.

Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Seán Clancy said his the military fully accept the findings of the report – he said the organisation “must change and we will change”. 

“The findings of this report are stark and we need to change. There is no place for any form of abuse, or failure to act on any form of inappropriate behaviour in the Defence Forces. It is contrary to our ethos and values and will not be tolerated.

“My first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our serving members and we are fully committed to achieving the necessary cultural change in our organisation,” he said.  

Women of Honour

Martin met with the Women of Honour (WoH) group yesterday to discuss the report, with the women involved in the meeting describing it as constructive.

The WoH are a number of female Defence Forces members who acted as whistleblowers in regard to their own treatment over bullying and sexual harassment in their military lives.

Their claims were detailed in a high-profile RTÉ radio documentary in late 2021.
It detailed the alleged shortcomings of reporting processes in the forces, as well as the devastating personal and professional implications of abuse and attempts to report it.

Some victims claimed they suffered depression, eating disorders and suicidal ideation as a result of their experiences, while some left their jobs in the forces.

In a statement this afternoon the Women of Honour group said they welcome the Government decision to establish a full statutory inquiry.

“In the light of the findings made by the Independent Review Group, nothing less than a full Statutory Inquiry was ever appropriate.

“Also, inevitably, the Military hierarchy, the Department of Defence itself and the Military system in its entirety will now be subject to that investigation in a manner that has been required for some considerable time.

“It is hoped that this commitment by Government to the establishment of a full Statutory Inquiry will start the process of healing for those persons who have suffered within the Defence Force system the appalling litany of abuse that is part of the Findings of Fact of the IRG Report.

“We await the necessary discussions to start the process of agreeing Terms of Reference for an all-encompassing full Statutory Public Inquiry where that process should start within days rather than weeks as Justice delayed is Justice denied.”

Martin received the IRG report at the beginning of February. The Attorney General then reviewed it before publication today. 

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28 Comments
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    Mute Allora
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    Mar 28th 2023, 1:41 PM

    Clearly as a society we have still a long way to go in relation to how we both treat and accept women and im a man who often disagrees with women. Absolutely no excuse for this & it must be condemned by all.

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    Mute Robert Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2023, 3:43 PM

    @Allora: you disagree with women and you still live?

    Seriously though, you are correct in what you say.

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    Mute Allora
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    Mar 28th 2023, 4:50 PM

    @Robert Byrne: just exist barely.

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    Mute Richard Griffin
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    Mar 28th 2023, 1:57 PM

    I find this a bit hard to swallow.. females in the DF get a much easier life than men..

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    Mute Lisa Jones
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    Mar 28th 2023, 3:42 PM

    @Richard Griffin: Not according to the report. Or do you know more inside information?

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    Mute Robert Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2023, 3:50 PM

    @Richard Griffin: I think that is a perception we all had. But how many times would you have heard other soldiers talk about our female colleagues in a disrespectful or demeaning way? How many times would we have heard someone mention that ‘she rode her way to where she is now’ I heard it, and got some amount of slagging when I tried to defend the person.
    We may not have paid attention at the time, the DF is paying for it now and it is embarrassing and shameful.

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    Mute Allora
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    Mar 28th 2023, 4:52 PM

    @Richard Griffin: clearly not unless you dismiss this report & even then how their representatives were treat recently by the tánaiste was quite telling.

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Mar 28th 2023, 5:24 PM

    @Richard Griffin: there is no question that the culture of irelands defence forces have been historically intimidating / bullyish/ macho / and this was somewhat accepted as the norm but as it began to bring in more demand recruits it clearly didn’t reform with the times and hence the female whistleblower groups brought this to the surface / I have no doubt that the men are / were much less forthcoming in setting up any whistle blower groups as they would be told you joined an army of course it’s intimidating and bullying / for me the general shift in Ireland to HR/inclusiveness/ diverse may be what’s required but it’s an army and I think some international best practice on how to reform for more appropriate inclusiveness is badly needed / how many people of colour / lgbt are in force ?

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Mar 28th 2023, 5:40 PM

    @Dave Hammond: Well said. It sounds like an unsafe environment from the last century, and why should Ireland settle for less? High time these issues were addressed. The other usual cliché is that people can leave if it doesn’t suit, but these soldiers have the gumption to look for improvements for all. I say good for them and I hope they can succeed in getting reform in their lifetimes.
    Our government has an unhealthy track record of ignoring abuse victims until they die and drop their case. It’s not good enough. No one deserves less.

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    Mute Robert Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2023, 7:36 PM

    @Dave Hammond: I get where you are coming from but I must remind you that the DF is wholly unlike any other organisation. The training is rigorous and intense at time but that is to prepare the soldier for events that they may come across, they will see things that ordinary people never see and it takes extraordinarymeasures to prepare for this. Having said that, this is about respect for colleagues and maybe the emphasis was lost on supporting all of their colleagues.

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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    Mar 28th 2023, 1:51 PM

    joining An Garda Síochána will change your life
    you’ll know where to get the best coffee at 4 am
    but sometimes you won’t get to drink it
    you’ll work hand in hand with communities
    but not everyone will thank you for it
    you’ll have no interest in police dramas
    but you’ll never shy away from the real thing
    being a Garda is a tough job
    but it’s a job worth doing
    and you saw the job we did on Joanne Hayes

    137
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    Mute Anthony Ross
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    Mar 28th 2023, 1:55 PM

    The training is not right in defence forces bully’s are allowed to be there .There should be more control of NCOS AND OFFICERS

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    Mute Gerry Ryan
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    Mar 28th 2023, 2:30 PM

    @Anthony Ross: It’s not confined to the chain of command, there’s a pecking order in the ranks also.

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    Mute Robert Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2023, 3:53 PM

    @Anthony Ross: the training is fine, it is a case now of adding to the training to combat this issue for the future.

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Mar 28th 2023, 3:52 PM

    If it says this about defence forces,what would they find in the gardaì?..thats the biggy.

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    Mute Disco Inferno
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    Mar 28th 2023, 6:33 PM

    @David Dineen: nothing, women rule that organisation. They don’t get what they want they initiate blocking proceedings for sexual harassment or discrimination. Job so terrified they accept it as gospel without investigating

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    Mute Paul Clancy
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    Mar 28th 2023, 7:47 PM

    @David Dineen: totally different organisations. Gender balance is 9% female in the DF and 27% in the Gardai. Civilianisation of Garda has influenced that too with 74% of Garda staff being female. Garda has numerous policies in place around gender and gender barrier issues.

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    Mute GreenFlag
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    Mar 28th 2023, 5:38 PM

    I am not saying what happened to these ladies is right its not.
    I just want to know if the women are forced to carry as much weight and to do the same military training as the men?
    The idea we need to make the army more inclusive is crazy. I want my Army to be a deadly fighting force capable of taking on the best troops in the world not a diversity quota

    And before anyone says it
    I know there is very capable women who will suit the front lines but I just don’t think there is that many of them because they are going to have to match a man’s strength and capacity for violence.

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    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
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    Mar 28th 2023, 7:32 PM

    @GreenFlag: The first two lines of your post are almost unbelievable. This article highlights the abuse, harassment and bullying of women in the defense forces and you’re trying to pick a fight over their capacity to carry weight? Greenflag?? Red flag more like!

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Mar 28th 2023, 7:37 PM

    @GreenFlag: reflect on your values. I suspect you would fit right in the old regime. Carrying weight is not what makes a soldier. It’s the ability to back up your comrades, to be reliable in battle. If carrying weight is the criteria, then hire weight lifters.

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    Mute Robert Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2023, 7:43 PM

    @GreenFlag: I can tell you have never served, so I will forgive your lack of understanding. There are women with whom I have served, who would embarrass some soldiers with their abilities. It is not just about combat effectiveness, it is a far more holistic organisation than you think.

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    Mute GERARD KENNELLY
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    Mar 29th 2023, 12:35 PM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin:

    next he’ll be telling you some of them are unmarried mothers

    he should move to kerry

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    Mute Noel Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2023, 6:12 PM

    Not one bit surprised. I spent some time in the PDF back in the 80s they barely tolerated men.

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    Mute David Dineen
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    Mar 28th 2023, 3:50 PM

    Dont forget the cheque book….

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    Mute Dan
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    Mar 28th 2023, 8:56 PM

    I want to highlight that the Defence forces is a job like no other it can offer experiences like no other job. You can build up a network of friends and indeed build relations for life having said that, like all big organisations there are flaws. We have excellent officers, NCOs and privates throughout the Defence Forces. BUT!!!

    As an organisation we haven’t learnt our lessons unfortunately this is still happening to our soldiers both at home and overseas. harassment, bullying, indeed in some cases covering up. Currently within the defence forces there is a new policy called Speak Out it is all over social media, and indeed on every notice board within Barracks but the reality is when soldiers do speak out there are repercussions for personal that have spoken out, and indeed try to protect soldiers under thier command. When complaints are made they are mearly brushed aside. The closing of ranks and cover ups still evident with Jnr officers /enlisted troops treated as second class citizens because of their rank. Reporting procedures and timelines completely ignored and put on the long finger are the norm. Investigating officers whom are friends and in some cases direct subordinates of who the complaints were made about in the first place. Troops are expected to get a fair completely impartial investigation where Jnr officers are asked to investigate Snr officers in some cases and give honest opinions with no repercussions is laughable at best!

    No other organisation that im aware of has this flawed system. Until we stop paying lip service to the elephant in the room this will continue to be the norm this is the experience of a senior NCO the organisation of 20 plus years service!!!

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    Mute Eamonn Byrne
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    Mar 28th 2023, 8:22 PM

    Disgraceful carry on over a long period. The leaders of the Defence forces should be ashamed on themselves for allowing this

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    Mute Joe McNamara
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    Mar 28th 2023, 5:46 PM

    The Time of the Hero by Mario Vergas Llosa.
    Recommended reading.

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    Mute gpowell
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    Mar 29th 2023, 9:01 AM

    Where is the link to the report

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