The Garda and the Defence Forces have appealed for victims of sexual abuse in the military to come forward after reviewing dozens of allegations of historical abuse. Anthony O’Brien, a former sergeant in the Defence Forces, has been gathering accounts of historical sexual abuse within the military since last May following contacts with veterans and their families. Mr O’Brien has accused the Defence Forces of failing to act on allegations of sexual abuse by Defence Forces personnel in the past and has called for a public inquiry and redress for the victims. He appealed for anyone who suffered adult or child sexual abuse to come forward to the Garda and make a report. The Defence Forces said it takes its members’ safety and wellbeing “extremely seriously” and urged anyone with information of alleged criminality, “recent or historic”, to come forward to gardaí.

Source: The Irish Times March 10, 2021 20:29 UTC