Young male recruits in the Defence Forces were allegedly subjected to a “reign of terror” in the 1970s and 80s. 

A recent report by the Independent Review Group found that women in the Defence Forces were verbally, sexually and physically abused while serving. 

For years, a group called the Women of Honour has been campaigning on the issue and now men are coming forward with their own stories as well. 

Two men have alleged to The Irish Independent that two non-commissioned officers sexually abused young recruits at a Munster training camp for years. 

One claims he was assaulted five times over an 18 month period when he was still in his teens.  

“There’s a lot of concern, particularly among male recruits who were in their teens when they joined the Defence Forces in the 70s and 80s [and] who suffered various forms of sexual abuse, sexual assault by their superiors,” Irish Independent journalist Ralph Riegel told Newstalk. 

“It appears that young male teens were deliberately targeted, those who were deemed to be perhaps vulnerable and they were very much subjected to a reign of terror during their training phase.” 

Members of the Defence Forces. Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The Women of Honour have attracted press and political attention over the years and male victims feel their experiences have been overlooked. 

“I think the major concern amongst these men who are of course now all adults, is that the entire focus at the moment seems to be on this sexual abuse and mistreatment of females within the Defence Forces,” Mr Riegel said. 

“And they feel very aggrieved that what was done to them seems to have been completely omitted or forgotten about in terms of further investigation and redress.” 

Complaints were lodged many years later to the Defence Forces but charges were never filed; a spokesperson told The Irish Independent that they do not comment on individual cases but there are support measures in place to help those who have been abused. 

“The alleged perpetrators are very elderly… they could have various medical conditions which would impact on any trial process,” Mr Riegel said. 

“Or in other cases, these events occurred so long ago that it would be impossible to proceed with any type of prosecution.”

Last week, in the wake of the Women of Honour report, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris encouraged victims to come forward and said he was concerned about “predators” in the Defence Forces.

Main image: A member of the Defence Forces. Picture by: Alamy.com