The Defence Forces have launched an investigation into allegations of bullying made by a soldier, who claimed he was locked into a locker and ordered to eat food off a floor during training at an Army barracks. Liam Reid reports.
However, superiors involved in the alleged incidents have denied to investigators that any bullying took place and contested the complainant's version of events.
The allegations come amid ongoing controversy regarding the Defence Forces' handling of bullying complaints, with recent allegations that complainants were victimised for making the complaints.
Following newspaper reports yesterday, a spokesman for the Defence Forces confirmed a "robust" inquiry was taking place into allegations which were being taken "very seriously".
The outcome of the investigation, which was due to be completed within weeks, would be made public, he said. He added that there were detailed guidelines regarding Army training to prevent bullying, and anybody found guilty faced serious disciplinary actions.
There was no vague area between what was acceptable practice and what constituted bullying, he continued. "There is a very clear line between what is robust training and what is unacceptable," he said.
In relation to the current complaint, 40 members of the platoon involved and the officers training them, had been interviewed by Military Police, the spokesman said.
In the latest bullying complaint, a member of a platoon has claimed that during an inspection of sleeping quarters at McKee Barracks, he was punished for untidiness by being locked in a locker. The soldier also alleged that he was ordered to eat food from the floor after it was discovered hidden under his bed.
It is strictly against rules at McKee Barracks for soldiers to have food in their sleeping quarters because of hygiene concerns.
It is believed the staff involved in the training have denied the claims and contested some of the allegations. The officers involved have said the soldier was asked to get into the locker to see whether it was clean, in what was an informal order.
They have also claimed that the order to eat off the floor was not a serious one, and made in the context of telling the soldier to get rid of the food "or eat it off the floor".
The issue of bullying in the Defence Forces has continued to be a controversial one, with complaints from PDFORRA, the soldiers' representative association, that Defence Force rules discouraged the reporting of complaints.