Woman claims Defence Forces barred her as a recruit because of asthma

A woman claims she has not been allowed to join the Defence Forces because of a disproportionate and discriminatory ban on people with asthma.

Orfhlaith Geraghty has been given permission to bring a High Court challenge against the Minister for Defence over the decision.

Ms Geraghty, who the court heard was an athlete and boxer who has competed at a high level, claims the policy is a beach of her right to equality.

On Wednesday, Ronan Lavery, Belfast Queen's Counsel, for Ms Geraghty, was granted leave on a one-side only represented basis to bring the judicial review challenge.

Ms Lavery, a leisure centre facilitator from Glen Mill Avenue in Belfast, says in an affidavit she always had an ambition to join the Defence Force and applied last July. After a medical examination she was told she could not because she was found to be “below the medical requirements”.

She understood the refusal was because of her asthma and appealed but her application was again rejected based on her clinical history.

She sought a review of the decision made by recruitment officer Lt Col Anthony Corcoran who offered to meet her.

Ms Geraghty, who has had asthma since childhood and uses an inhaler, says it has never had any effect on her life. She had a successful boxing career with her local boxing club, a successful camogie career with a GAA club and was currently employed at a sports centre where she has never had any sick days.

She says she had successfully passed the army fitness test.

She emailed her grievances to Lt Col Corcoran who replied that an applicant with asthma and who uses an inhaler does not meet the criteria set down by the Defence Forces for recruitment. He said the regulations governing this were not in his remit.

The matter was referred to the Defence Forces human resources department which stood over the decision.

In her action, she seeks an order quashing he decision and a declaration that it is unlawful and unconstitutional

She claims the minister has adopted a rigid and inflexible policy which prevents consideration of individual merits or exceptional circumstances.

She says her right to equality and to be free from discrimination of grounds of disability is unconstitutional, disproportionate and a breach of European Convention rights.

She also claims there “could not be any scientific basis” to refuse her because of asthma. She points out the British Army admits recruits with asthma.

Her counsel Mr Lavery told Mr Justice Charles Meenan there appeared to be a “blanket policy” with regard to those with an asthmatic condition but it had not been possible to obtain a copy of the regulation which refers to the policy.

He said there are different levels of asthma and Ms Geraghty feels no consideration has been taken into account of her individual condition.

Mr Justice Meenan was satisfied that arguable grounds had been made out to grant leave to bring the case. He said it could come back to court in June.