Sir, – Hardly a week went by this past year without reference in the media, The Irish Times included, to the sad and continually declining state of the Defence Forces.
However, the most deplorable narrative of all was written by the Defence Forces itself in the Independent Review Group’s findings, published last March, of a variety of abuse perpetrated, especially on female members. Lieut Gen Sean Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, said left him feeling ashamed.
In this, he echoed the shame and devastation of those who are currently serving and have in the past served with honour and dignity but who were left, in the public mind, tarred with the same brush as the small percentile who wreaked criminal havoc on fellow members.
Despite this dark shadow, Defence Forces personnel continued to professionally carry out their duties at home, such as in the “storming” of a cargo ship, off the Irish coast in September, which was ferrying a €157 million haul of cocaine, the largest drugs capture in the history of the State.
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And abroad, in places like the Lebanese-Israeli border referenced in the past few days by an Israeli war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, in threatening war, on a second front, against the hostile activity of Hizbullah, an Iranian-backed militia in south Lebanon.
As the year draws to a close, it is appropriate to remind ourselves of the integrity and loyalty of the “good men and good women”, also referenced by Lieut Gen Clancy during the Defence Forces’ darkest hour last March. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GANNON,
Kilkenny.
Sir, – Conor Gallagher’s report “Army’s elite special forces unit to be overhauled in major revamp” (News, December 30th) is indeed welcome news.
The 2015 White Paper on Defence committed to increasing the strength of the Army Ranger Wing, and now eight years later the process is finally underway. Other serious problems remain in the Defence Forces regarding retention of skilled personnel, particularly in the Naval Service. I hope 2024 will be a turning point, and that the Government will finally deliver what is required. – Yours, etc,
CONOR HOGARTY ,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.