The Chief of Staff of Defence Forces has said that the event that took place at a Dublin barracks during a Covid-19 lockdown, in which two female officers were alleged to have been physically and sexually assaulted, was ill-advised and inappropriate.
The Defence Forces also say that they're working to progress key recommendations of an independent report into the event.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, has asked the Chief of Staff to further examine the issue while a Senator, and former member of the Defence Forces, says all sexual allegations in the Defence Forces need to be investigated by Gardaí and not military police.
In June 2020, during Covid restrictions, a BBQ lunch was organised at McKee Barracks in Dublin for members of the Joint Task Force, a group managing and directing the Defence Force's response to Covid-19.
The event lasted seven hours, had free alcohol paid for by a €300 grant from mess funds, and at least 37 people were identified as being there, by a group picture taken at the event.
A report by Senior Counsel Hugh Mohan said:
"Given the Task Force was actually a critical part of the State's response to the pandemic, a function of this nature should not have even been countenanced, let alone held in the manner it was....the fact that it took place and the manner in which it was held shows significant lapses of judgement and supervision."
The report also detailed how two female Officers were assaulted by a drunk man they found asleep in a part of the barracks later that night.
The accused was court martialled and found guilty on two charges including a form of sexual assault.
Senator Tom Clonan said the sexual assault allegations should not have been dealt with by military police
"I believe that all sex assaults in the Defence Forces should be investigated by An Garda Síochána and tried in the criminal and civil courts. No organisation, irrespective of its nature, should be able to investigate itself."
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, has asked the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces to "review this matter further".
Mr Martin said the event should not have been organised and that verbal, physical or sexual assaults have no place in the Defence Forces.
The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces said the event was ill-advised and inappropriate.
In a statement the organisation said that they're working to progress the report's key recommendations.
All this comes ahead of the publication in the coming days of another report on the work culture of the Defence Forces, prompted in part by the Women of Honour group, the findings of which the Chief of Staff has already described as "stark".
Women of Honour
Tonight the Women of Honour group, who came to public attention following a documentary by the same name on RTÉ Radio 1 which highlighted the treatment of women in the Defence Forces, criticised the forthcoming report.
In a statement, the group accused the Government of continuing to mishandle the allegations and of taking part in a PR stunt.
They said they have been invited to meet with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin on Monday afternoon, but have been told they will not be able to read the report in advance of it going to Cabinet on Tuesday.
They say while they have accepted the invitation out of courtesy they're concerned about the Tánaiste's approach.
"Bringing people to meetings, to be talked to, about a report that we are not able to read smacks of little more than a public relations stunt by the Government. It is disappointing and continues the mishandling of the issue."
"The WoH never agreed with this review due to the lack of statutory powers to compel people and documents and it is compounding the hurt to victims by continuing to afford them such little respect, in failing to even allow them to read the report.
"The delay in publishing the Review, which in our view was pointless in itself, further extends the pain of victims."
They said at the meeting they'll be asking the Tánaiste why he ever agreed to a review that had no powers, why the Department of Defence, which they say has a conflict of interest in this matter, should be allowed to oversee these matters and if they will initiate a statutory inquiry.
It said over the 15 months it has waited for the report there have been "no changes, no resolutions and more victims.
"The 15 months since the Review began has continued the deplorable treatment inflicted on so many by the Defence Forces."
