The High Court is to be asked to strike out the Defence Forces' defence of a legal action against it by a former technician. In May, the Irish Examiner reported how the Defence Forces claimed they could not give a signed affidavit to the former Air Corps technician because of Covid-19 physical distancing rules. This was despite the fact that Defence Forces lawyers were last ordered to provide the affidavit more than eight months before the first case of the virus was found in Ireland. State bodies decline to answerThe Defence Forces, the Department of Defence and the State Claims Agency declined to answer any questions put to it by the Irish Examiner. In reply, the Department of Defence said: “Responsibility for personal injuries claims taken against the Minister for Defence is delegated to the State Claims Agency.

Source: Irish Examiner July 13, 2020 18:11 UTC