The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence has received a report from the Defence Forces detailing that 68 personnel have been convicted or are before the courts for a range of offences, including rape, domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. This revelation has caused anger within the Government. The Minister for Public Expenditure stated that anyone with a serious conviction should not be a member of the Defence Forces. The Taoiseach emphasized the need for serious consideration regarding the continuation of service for members facing serious allegations. A senior counsel has been appointed by the Tánaiste to urgently examine the administration of court cases involving Defence Forces personnel charged or convicted of serious offences. The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin held a meeting with Lieutenant General of the Defence Forces Seán Clancy to address the issue. The number of Defence Forces members with convictions may be higher than reported.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin held a meeting with Lieutenant General of the Defence Forces Seán Clancy this morning, after it emerged there are 68 members of the forces with criminal convictions or facing the courts https://t.co/NPvR9LfjXz
Number of Defence Forces members with convictions may be higher than reported https://t.co/J0Wd1Yw7Zo
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A senior counsel has been appointed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to 'urgently examine' the administration of court cases involving Defence Forces personnel charged or convicted of serious offences https://t.co/CkbDLrwD6d
The Taoiseach has said there is a need for "serious consideration" about allowing members of the Defence Forces to continue serving if "serious allegations" are made against them https://t.co/CkbDLrwD6d
Anybody who has a conviction "of a serious nature" should not be a member of the Defence Forces, according to the Minister for Public Expenditure https://t.co/CkbDLrwD6d
Anger in Government after Defence Forces discloses 68 serving soldiers convicted or charged with offences https://t.co/ur1pZuiuIR
68 Defence Forces personnel have convictions or are before the courts for a range of offences including rape, report finds https://t.co/dfCAJpnjdy
It has emerged that there are 68 members of the Defence Forces who have been convicted or are before the civil courts on a range of offences https://t.co/izLJjUM3SU
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence has received a report from the Defence Forces detailing the number of personnel serving who have a conviction relating to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence https://t.co/KHvwJfoKg9