Defence Forces Tribunal: Soldier had status downgraded after complaint of sex assault by army chaplain

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

Fr. Dave Tyndall Photo: Óglaigh na hÉireann/Flickr

Sergeant Noel Brennan, who was sexually assaulted by Fr David Tyndall, also said he felt officers had tried to persuade him to deal with the matter through mediation rather than pursue the formal complaint he lodged in 2021.

The incident happened in 2015 but Sgt Brennan, who was applying to join a particular unit at the time, was worried it might affect his chances of being accepted.

He told the tribunal on Friday that he was also worried about the friendship Fr Tyndall said he had with his superior officers.

The former Defence Forces chaplain was convicted at Dublin District Court in 2021 of sexually assaulting his then colleague on January 16, 2015, at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin.

The 58-year-old, who blamed drinking alcohol for his actions, served as a Defence Forces chaplain from 2008 to 2021 before being removed from the role over the incident.

He received a three-month suspended sentence under Section 2 of the Sex Offenders Act after he pleaded guilty to kissing and touching Sergeant Brennan.

Mr Brennan, who left the Defence Forces in 2024, told the tribunal he had gone to Fr Tyndall’s residence in Cathal Brugha Barracks for help with getting an annulment of his marriage.

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

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41931354.html

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Delay – Deny – Die

Defence Forces complaints process should be independent of military command, say officers

Much of the Defence Forces complaints process should be “externalised” and run by people outside the chain of military command, according to the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers.

On the second day of the Defence Forces Tribunal, RACO deputy general secretary Colonel Derek Priestley said too few officers are qualified to handle complaints within the Defence Forces.

He also said his members are frequently exasperated when ordered to investigate allegations against soldiers, regardless of their rank. “Most would want to do their best but they would express concerns that they can’t,” he said.

There are also issues around impartiality, Col Priestley said, with officers very often knowing individuals they are ordered to investigate.

In answer to questions from Ms Justice Ann Power, he admitted officers tasked with handling complaints also often just don’t have the time to investigate them — “on top of everything else”.

He said there is also “a lack of training, a lack of manpower and lack of experience” as far as the complaints process is concerned.

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

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41930514.html

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Delay – Deny – Die

Defence Forces Tribunal: Officer declines to answer whether ‘a good soldier’ would complain

As the Defence Forces Tribunal resumed on Wednesday, a senior officer involved in human resources declined to answer whether “a good soldier” would complain.

The question was asked by senior counsel Gareth Compton, who represents serving and former members of the Defence Forces.

The exchange led to objections from a barrister for the State.

Earlier, Colonel Daragh O’Brien was asked if it had ever occurred to him that the Defence Forces’ complaints process should be run externally.

Mr Compton told him serving and former soldiers had repeatedly testified that they have “no confidence that the current (complaints) process is confidential”.

He asked if the notion of taking the complaints process “outside the chain of command to an external body” had ever occurred to him.

The cavalry officer, who has also served in the Defence Forces transformation management office, replied: “I cannot speak to that. It’s outside my remit.”

Mr Compton said that such a move would “seem like a natural conclusion”.

Col O’Brien replied: “I cannot comment.”

Mr Compton then asked: “Would a good soldier complain?”

Col O’Brien, whose duty abroad includes tours in Lebanon, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Mali, remained silent and the barrister sat down after there were objections about his question.

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

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41930046.html

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