A 20-year-old woman whose picture was used in promotion campaigns seeking recruits for the Naval Service yesterday in the High Court challenged her discharge from the service because she suffers from coeliac disease.
Ms Maria Fitzgerald, from Friar's Walk, Cork, told the court that since she left the service she had not pursued any other career but had made every effort to be accepted by it. Ms Fitzgerald had been used in promotion pictures for the Naval Service at the launch of the LE Roisin last year.
The deputy director of the Army Medical Corps, Lieut Col Joseph Monaghan, in an affidavit, said Ms Fitzgerald's health was dependent on her strict compliance with a gluten-free diet.
This diet could not be guaranteed with Defence Forces rations, particularly if Ms Fitzgerald was assigned to sea-going duties, collective field training or overseas services that might last a considerable time.
Mr Tom Creed SC, for Ms Fitzgerald, said she became a recruit in August 1999 and after 158 days' training received the highest gradings in military fitness, vision and hearing.
But following a medical examination she was found to be a coeliac sufferer, and the Defence Forces medical board approved her discharge.
Mr Creed said the board had classified the disease as Grade 3. This categorised a person as having a chronic medical condition which required supervision and treatment more frequently than every six months. It also applied if unexpected interruption of treatment would cause an unacceptable risk to health.
Dr Neil Cronin, an expert in the treatment of coeliac disease, had made submissions to the authorities in which he said in his view Ms Fitzgerald's condition was a minor disability and did not preclude her from being considered medically fit to pursue her chosen career.
Col Monaghan said that other people discovered to have coeliac disease subsequent to final approval are categorised Grade 3 and restricted in their duties. For example, they were not deployed in combat areas as they might be cut off from their sources of supply.
Dr Maurice Collins, director of the Medical Corps, in an affidavit said Ms Fitzgerald appealed the medical board's decision. Coeliac disease was not a minor condition. It was a chronic and potentially serious disease.
A failure to adhere to appropriate diet could result in severe ongoing symptoms and the development of osteoporosis and malignancy.
The hearing before Mr Justice MacKechnie was adjourned to May 27th.