The Defence Forces Tribunal has heard a soldier had his status downgraded after he complained about being sexually assaulted by an army chaplain.

A Defence Forces officer has denied pressure was put on a soldier who suffered sexual assault to not make a formal complaint.

Captain Mark Doyle said anybody who makes a complaint to the military police is free to use any number of options open to them, including calling gardaí.

It took four working days to report the matter to gardaí. Capt Doyle, a former senior member of the military police, said legal advice had to be sought on whether the assailant was subject to military law.

“There is no pressure on complainants,” he told the Defence Forces Tribunal.

“We do not deter or pressurise (anybody).”

Sergeant Noel Brennan told the tribunal last week that Capt Doyle had entered a room abruptly, in May 2021, while he was in the course of making a formal statement.

Mr Brennan was sexually assaulted by former army chaplain Fr David Tyndall on January 16, 2015, at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin.

Mr Brennan, who has since left the Defence Forces, reported the assault later out of fear it would impact on his career.

He told the tribunal he “got a bit of a fright” when Capt Doyle walked into the room and asked him if mediation might be an option.

Mr Brennan said he didn’t want to go down that route, and said in his evidence last week that Capt Doyle’s offer was the second time he had been offered mediation.

Read full article by Neil Michael on the Irish Examiner website below.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41932626.html

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