Military court hears of sexual assault

The trial of an army private accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague has been told a combination of anti-malaria tablets issued by the Army and alcohol may have affected his behaviour.

The military court sitting at McKee Barracks in Dublin yesterday heard the private – who cannot be identified by direction of trial judge Col Michael Campion – sexually assaulted the woman while on 24-hour duty in the Republic with her and a supervising corporal.

The private told his counsel, Gareth Humphreys, part of the 24-hour duty would involve the three soldiers sleeping in the same room, in separate beds, while maintaining readiness to mobilise within five minutes should it be required.

The male private gave evidence that some time after they went to bed he remembered being in the middle of the room with the light on, dressed in his underclothes about two feet from the female colleague’s bed. He said the female colleague was shouting and saying that he had touched her backside. She said she would report the incident.

The private said he had been having trouble sleeping, had nightmares and periods of depression and forgetfulness which he linked to trips abroad serving with the Defence Forces.

A British military medical specialist in tropical medicine, infectious diseases and public health, Dr Ashley Croft, told the hearing there was a well documented history of psychotic events connected with a branded form of mefloquine called Lariam, which was given to troops to prevent and treat malaria.

However, Comdt Fintan McCarthy for the Office of the Director of Military Prosecutions put it to the private that he remembered everything that had happened on the night. He told the accused visits to the doctor and claims of depression came after charges arose in relation to the incident. The case continues today.