Upon the establishment of the Defence Forces Tribunal the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors representative group where concerned about an imbalance in legal resources between the Defence Forces & Department of Defence on the one hand and victims groups on the other.
We agreed with the Defence Forces Justice Alliance, the Women of Honour & other victims groups that legal representation was a must from the very start of the tribunal so that all our members can make comprehensive initial submissions with the benefit of legal oversight.
On the 25th of June 2024 Ms Justice Ann Power handed down a Ruling of the Tribunal on Applications for Representation Made on Behalf of Representative Bodies (please see extract and link to full ruling below).
We are delighted to announce the appointment of solicitor, Mr Norman Spicer, of Coleman Legal LLP as our legal representative for the tribunal.
Norman is a former member of the Defence Forces having served as a Gunner in Mc Kee barracks and can be contacted via the email address below.
We would encourage all colleagues with complaints of hazardous chemicals or abuse linked to same to make contact immediately so that submissions can be made within the recently extended deadline of the 30th September 2024.
*****
Extract From Ruling
Application was made by Mr Gavin Tobin, on behalf of the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors, for partial representation.
In addition to complaints concerning ‘toxic chemicals’, this representative body, in its written application, also referred to matters that may fall within the definition of abuse as set out in the Terms of Reference.
The Tribunal is satisfied that the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors group as a sufficiently direct interest in the Terms of Reference to be granted limited representation during the investigative stage of the Tribunal’s work and it is so ordered.
Limited representation is granted to the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors for the following purposes:
(a) assisting individual members who have information relevant to Terms of Reference (vii) and assisting such individual members to the extent that they have information concerning complaints of abuse as defined in the Terms of Reference and which is relevant to paragraphs (i) to (v) thereof and who wish to submit statements to the Tribunal in relation thereto;
(b) attending upon any such members if they are called for interview during the investigative stage of the Tribunal; and
(c) making submissions as an organisation and on behalf of its membership in respect of the Terms of Reference.
Having considered the written and oral application made herein, the Tribunal is satisfied that a grant of representation to the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors in these terms is sufficient to cover that representative body’s interests during the investigative stage of the Tribunal’s work.
The Tribunal defers its decision in respect of the extent of legal representation, if any, during the public hearings stage of its work.
Download the full ruling of Ms Justice Ann Power from 25th July 2024 below.