No place for ‘serious’ convictions in Forces – Donohoe

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.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, Paschal Donohoe said he was “sure” that the Defence Forces are providing full transparency to Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin regarding revelations that 68 members of the Defence Forces have been convicted or are before the courts for a range of offences.

The revelations “underline” to Mr Donohoe the importance of the modernisation of the Defence Forces.

“I do accept that when a legal process is under way the outcome of that has to be concluded. It is critical to note that the Defence Forces have a process of their own under way with regard to the individual that is at the heart of the awful assault that was endured by Natasha O’Brien,” Mr Donohoe said.

Last week Cathal Crotty, who beat Ms O’Brien unconscious and boasted about it on social media, walked free from court after being given a suspended sentence.

The Defence Forces is in the process of examining the future of Private Crotty (above).

It previously said that it had to wait until due process had been completed in a civilian court of law.

Mr Donohoe said he was “absolutely appalled” at the “trauma that Ms O’Brien has endured”.

“I’m sickened by it. Minister [for Justice] Helen McEntee has already made very important decisions and brought forward policies on domestic and gender-based violence.

“She has, for example, doubled the sentence available to those who commit serious physical assault,” Mr Donohoe said.

He added: “From my point of view, if I look at the culture that I believe is what the Defence Forces want to aspire to, which is one of respect, being a source of pride for our country, there is little doubt at all that the swift resolution of this issue … is important.”

Mr Donohoe added that the Tánaiste was taking legal advice to see how much of a report from the Commission on the Defence Forces can be published.