Just "a whiff" that a soldier was a homosexual in the early 1990s meant he would be asked to resign, a former commanding officer of McKee Barracks Dublin told the High Court yesterday.
Retired Lt Col James Murphy was giving evidence in the continuing action for damages by a 40-year-old former soldier alleging the Army failed to protect him from a number of alleged sexual assaults by Sgt Maj Patrick Devereux, DúNa Rí, Glenabbey Road, Kildare, on dates between 1990 and 1995.
The action is against the Minister for Defence and the State.
The court has been told that Sgt Maj Devereux had pleaded guilty to assault in relation to another solder in the early 2000s. In proceedings brought against him related to the alleged assaults on the plaintiff, Sgt Maj Devereux pleaded not guilty and the jury failed to reach a verdict.
The court was told yesterday that Sgt Maj Devereux was discharged from the Army in April 1999 with a conduct assessment of "Exemplary". At the time of discharge, there were three allegations outstanding against him of serious criminal sexual misconduct, Mr Justice Richard Johnson was told.
In his evidence yesterday, Mr Murphy said homosexuality was not tolerated during his time as commanding officer at McKee Barracks in the early 1990s. "Just a whiff of it and people were asked to resign. There was absolutely no tolerance of it, " he said.
He said Sgt Major Devereux would not have been promoted if it was known he was a homosexual.
The hearing continues today.