Fifty-seven serving members of the Defence Forces have criminal convictions or are currently before civil and military courts on alleged offences, according to figures seen by RTÉ News.
The figures, which take in the period from July 2024 to October 2025, were released in response to a written parliamentary question (PQ) submitted by Labour TD Duncan Smith.
Mr Smith submitted the query in October but only got his response and figures in the past week.
The Defence Forces data shows 45 personnel have been convicted in civilian courts since July 2024, with 27 of those still serving despite the convictions.
The breakdown of those 45 convictions shows: three public order; seven assault; three sexual offences; 27 road traffic offences; three drug offences; one unlawful possession of controlled substances and one conviction for money laundering.
The money laundering case relates to a soldier who laundered over €6.5 million for drug dealers. He was jailed for three years in 2025.
The 27 Defence Forces personnel continuing to serve hold convictions for public order offences (three), road traffic offences (23) and assault (one).
Asked about the seriousness of the road traffic offences relating to 23 Defence Forces members, a spokesperson said in a statement:
"Defence Forces members serving with a conviction are primarily related to road traffic offences of a minor nature and the discretion for dismissal ensures that personnel who have committed minor offences, which are not incompatible with military service, can continue to serve in Óglaigh na hÉireann."
The figures also show that as of October, eight Defence Forces members were convicted at court martial (military court) of criminal offences over the past five years.
The offences included assault, sexual assault and false imprisonment.
Two of the eight of those individuals are still serving in the Defence Forces.
The Defence Forces said both were found guilty of minor offences under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
The figures also show that in October, 23 Defence Forces personnel were before the courts on alleged charges.
The alleged offences were: three for public order offences; nine for assault; three for sexual offences; one for domestic violence; six for road traffic offences and one drugs offence.
As of October last year, there were seven Defence Forces members were before a court-martial facing charges.
Of those cases, five involved serving personnel, while two individuals are no longer members of the Defence Forces.
The charges relate to a mix of disciplinary and criminal charges, including: behaviour contrary to good order and discipline; disobeying a lawful command; Insubordination or use of threatening language; dangerous driving and assault.
The Defence Forces confirmed the personnel in the three cases relating to alleged sexual assault in Irish civilian courts continued to work with the Defence Forces but are on "local leave".
Anyone accused of a sexual offence in the Defence Forces is put on "local leave", which means suspended with pay.
Powers of suspension in the Defence Forces are currently being progressed through the houses of the Oireachtas and need an amendment to the Defence Act.
A Defence Forces spokesperson told RTÉ's Morning Ireland in a statement that "while powers of suspension are still processing through the legislative process, the Defence Forces have been permitted to use 'local leave' as a means to take personnel off active duty in the case of serious offences or offences of a sexual nature".
The statement from Defence Forces stressed the presumption of innocence in any case before the courts and said "local leave" is non-prejudicial.
The statement added: "Where a member of the Defence Forces is convicted of a serious offence or sexual offence, the process to dismiss that individual will begin, in line with Defence Forces Regulations.
"Óglaigh na hÉireann has a zero-tolerance policy to inappropriate behaviour, ensuring those with serious convictions are dismissed and those before the courts or serving with minor convictions represent a minor fraction of the Defence Forces, where the majority demonstrate daily the standards and values required of military service".
Mr Smith said he has huge concern about, not only the number of Defence Forces personnel who find themselves before the civil and internal courts, but also the variety of crimes under prosecution.
"The figure of 57 seems like a particularly high number. It is a real cause for concern. Our Defence Forces … the standards we expect in terms of them upholding the law are the highest they can possibly be in the State," he said.
"A number of the offences are minor but the category of offences - assault offences, sexual offences, drug offences, money laundering - there have been people in our Defence Forces convicted under all those categories," he added.
"It is important to ensure there is zero-tolerance for serious crime within our Defence Forces," he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence said: "The Minister [for Defence] condemns all forms of inappropriate behaviour. The mechanism to use 'local leave' has always been available to the Defence Forces and was used prior to the Ministerial direction to use 'local leave', in June 2024, as a means to take personnel off active duty in the case of serious criminal offences or offences of a sexual nature, on a without prejudice basis.
"A legal basis for formal suspension is being worked through the legislative system currently.
"The minister continues to receive briefings from the Chief of Staff on all live cases in both the civil and military justice systems, and does not comment on individual cases."
The information relating to the number of Defence Forces personnel still serving with convictions or before the courts on alleged offices came from the Minister for Defence in a response to Mr Smith’s PQ in the Dáil.
Referring to the delayed response to Mr Smith’s query, Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said she was "previously advised by military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information in the time available".
