Sir, – Prof Diarmaid Ferriter cautions in “Women of Honour group wants a tribunal, but what lies ahead could be interminable” (Opinion & Analysis, June 16th): “Their demand for a layered, public investigation of five decades of Defence Forces history is understandable, and their anger justified. But it is also likely that their desire for ‘as many people as possible’ to ‘have their say and have their issues dealt with’ will lead to an interminable saga.”
The Women of Honour’s own statement last week, however, stipulates as part of their conditions the inquiry report should be published not more than two years after the establishment of the tribunal. An experienced chair with an agreed timeline and scope can be tasked to achieve this. The stated demands of this courageous group of women are more than understandable, they are essential. The historical experience of women in the military is now well documented internationally. Ireland is not unique. As my published research on sexual and gender-based violence in the military (including during the Irish Civil War) has shown, related investigations or inquiries were typically closed with impunity the norm. When women were permitted to join armies, a similar pattern emerged. The “Independent Review Group – Defence Forces” recently reported on serious sexual crimes (inscribed in Irish law since 1861), bullying, misogyny and safety in the workplace issues. On misogyny in the Defence Forces, the IRG concluded that, at best, the Defence Forces “barely tolerates women” and, at its worst, “verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks”.
An open tribunal of investigation, however cumbersome or difficult, co-designed by those personally impacted (widely considered best practice in other jurisdictions internationally), is a reasonable demand. Otherwise what message does this give to women in Ireland or other survivors of abuse and life-altering trauma? Barely tolerated?
Fiat justitia ruat caelum – let justice be done though the heavens fall. – Yours, etc,
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Prof LINDA CONNOLLY,
Director,
Maynooth University
Social Sciences Institute,
Maynooth University,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
