Army in 'denial' about post-traumatic stress

A clinical psychologist told the High Court yesterday there had been a "cover-up" and "denial" within the Army about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Irish soldiers who had served overseas, including in Lebanon.

Dr Miriam Malone said she had interviewed many veterans who had served overseas and found several suffered from PTSD. When psychologically disturbed soldiers came back from war zones, there was "a lot of denial and cover-up", she said. They were called "cowards" and "weaklings" and were often discharged dishonourably.

Their trauma was compounded because it was not acknowledged.

Dr Malone said she had interviewed Mr Christopher Knowles in 1995 and carried out tests and concluded he suffered from severe PTSD. She said he had all the symptoms of the condition. She said the condition now known as PTSD was always recognised but, until about 1980, it was called different names, like "battle fatigue" or "shell shock".

She said it was "extraordinary" and a "misdiagnosis" for Mr Knowles, who was hospitalised just weeks after arriving in Lebanon in June 1978, to have been certified by Army doctors as having "reactive depression due to home separation".

The Army doctors should have been able to recognise trauma and that Mr Knowles was psychiatrically disturbed, she said. He should have been sent home immediately and treated.

Dr Malone was giving evidence in the continuing action for damages by Mr Knowles (45), of Clondalkin, against the Minister for Defence. Mr Knowles claims he contracted PTSD while serving with the first Army Battalion, that he is disturbed as a result, and the Army was negligent in failing to treat him.

Dr Malone said yesterday she had been asked by the Army veterans' association to conduct research. More than half of those interviewed suffered from PTSD.

She had assessed Mr Knowles at his solicitor's request. He told her of an incident where he believed he was going to be killed. Dr Malone said an incident did not have to be life-threatening to lead to PTSD.

If a person perceived it as life-threatening, that could lead to the condition. She said Mr Knowles's trauma was compounded because of the way he was treated by the Army.

If Mr Knowles had received treatment, he would not be like he was now. The case continues before Mr Justice O'Donovan.