Our Forces in the firing line

A statutory inquiry process “must start within days rather than weeks” Tanaiste Michael Martin has said, with the Government to carry out a “study of deaths by suicide” in the Defence Forces in the past 20 years following the longawaited report detailing the extent of abuse within the forces.

It makes for disturbing reading, detailing a raft of structural failures in the or- ganisation in its treatment of female members and in how it responds to allegations of bullying, harassment and abuse. e 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 o cers.

It examines historical issues within the forces but also