A 25-YEAR-OLD man has brought a High Court challenge against the Defence Forces’ refusal to allow him join the Army as a recruit because he is too old.
Michael Smyth claims he was informed by an Army officer last October he was being offered a traineeship as a three-star private but that offer was withdrawn on grounds that Mr Smyth, who turned 25 last June, exceeded the age limit.
Mr Smyth, The Grove, Millbrook Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin, claims he was never informed of the age restriction throughout the application process.
Leave to bring the judicial review challenge was granted by Mr Justice Michael Peart this week and the case was returned to next month.
The court heard Mr Smyth applied for a traineeship as a three-star private with the Defence Forces in 2010 via its website, but was not successful.
He claims he was asked by the Defence Forces last March if he was still interested. He said he was and attended for a medical, which he passed.
On October 4th he was informed by an officer a new platoon was to be recruited, he was “guaranteed a place” and would be starting on November 14th, he claims. He said the following day he was informed by the same officer he could not be offered the position because he would be 25 on the enlistment date. After that, Mr Smyth said he checked the Defence Forces website and it stated the age limit for recruits is 25. Mr Smyth is seeking a number of orders and declarations, including an order aimed at allowing him join the Defence Forces.