The "macho" approach in the Irish Army might lead soldiers to suppress stress although soldiers going overseas were told how to recognise it, the High Court heard yesterday.
Lieut Col Colman Goggin, a military psychologist, said the biggest step forward in the Army in relation to stress came in 1993 when "critical incidence stress debriefing" was introduced. This was learned from the Americans.
Lieut Col Goggin was giving evidence in an action brought against the State by Mr David McHugh (36), a former private in the Defence Forces, of Bargy Road, East Wall, Dublin. Mr McHugh claims he is suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.
The action is believed to be the first Army case involving PTSD to be heard before the courts. Other similar claims may have been settled without coming to hearing.
Mr McHugh claims that in November 1992, while a sergeant was explaining and demonstrating the cleaning of weapons to other soldiers in Lebanon, the sergeant had discharged a live round at a time when Mr McHugh was only five feet away. That bullet almost struck him, he claims.
Mr McHugh also claims he was severely shocked but was not referred to psychiatric or other treatment.
He came home on Christmas leave after the incident. He returned to Lebanon and remained there until April 1993. While in Lebanon, he alleged, he was placed in life-threatening situations for which he was unsuited.
He claims he was involved in a number of particularly stressful situations during January-February 1993 and might have been in a position to cope had it not been for the 1992 episode.
The State denies the claims and pleads contributory negligence.
In his evidence, Lieut Col Goggin said he attended conferences of military psychologists about 1986 and became aware of the need to raise awareness in troops, particularly those going overseas, of the dangers of stress and how to recognise it.
The biggest step forward had been the introduction of critical incidence stress debriefing. This involved bringing peer groups together to discuss problem incidents and to realise they were normal people reacting to abnormal situations.
There was also the medical corps which would give medical counselling and medication or therapy to those peer groups. A six-page document on how to recognise stress was produced in 1990-91, and two pamphlets on stress were produced in 1993.
From about 1991 Army officers going to Lebanon would have been lectured on stress and would have received the document. Other ranks did not receive that document prior to 1993.
Mr Ronnie Robbins SC, for Mr McHugh, said evidence was given that his client, following incidents in February 1993, had become obsessed, would not shut up, was unable to sleep at night but walked about the compound, slept during the day and stared when talking.
There was also evidence that Mr McHugh's colleagues were disturbed by his behaviour and his company sergeant became aware of it and decided to move Mr McHugh to a billet alongside the sergeant.
Lieut Col Goggin said each of those symptoms would be an indication of stress but not necessarily illness. Stress would only become a disorder when it reached certain levels. Treatment would involve relaxation and breathing exercises together with positive thinking.
Cross-examined by Mr Gerard Lee SC, for the State, Lieut Col Goggin said the two pamphlets on stress were not printed until September 1993 and were used in training the 74th Battalion in October 1993. This was after the incidents involving Mr McHugh in February 1993.
Mr Lee said the evidence would be that, in relation to incidents in February 1993, there had been debriefings or discussions regarding those involved in the incidents. Lieut Colonel Goggin agreed such procedures would be normal and the Army would have been carrying out its duties in relation to the February incidents.
The hearing continues today.