A Dublin bookmaker has offered odds of 10/1 on the prospect of Irish soldiers suing for impaired vision due to the glare from over-shiny boots. Odds of 5/1 are available that members of the Defence Forces will next sue over travel sickness arising from travel to UN duties in Lebanon.
A spokesman for bookmaker's chain Paddy Power said the offers were authentic and a response to public anger over recent compensation claims being made by Army members. A spokesman for the Army said last night that there was disappointment that Paddy Power had descended to this level to ridicule the Defence Forces.
Paddy Power said its customers were exasperated by the notion of soldiers making compensation claims. The bookmaker decided to devise a range of options on what the Army will be sued for next.
These include 20/1 on sore throats due to singing marching songs and 25/1 on compensation for money lost at an Army day out at the races. Of the latter offer, the Army spokesman said: "I am surprise that Paddy Power of all people would offer odds on that."
The best odds on offer are 500/1 that the Army will win a collective Best Acting Oscar.
The organisation representing members of the Defence Forces, PDFORRA, has admitted some embarrassment over compensation claims made by 15 members serving in the Lebanon over food-poisoning at a barbecue in 1996. One of the claims was settled out of court before Christmas for £2,500 plus legal costs.
The Army spokesman said last night the 15 claimants were from 45,000 members of the Defence Forces who have served overseas. "The vast majority do not deserve this ridicule [from Paddy Power]. And I feel very sorry for those soldiers who genuinely deserve compensation."
The latest estimate for compensation for Army hearing damage is put at £200 million.