Women of Honour disappointed Taoiseach did not agree to immediate statutory inquiry

The Women of Honour group has expressed disappointment after meeting the Taoiseach on Monday that a review will go ahead rather than a statutory inquiry into accusations of misconduct in the Defence Forces.

Karina Molloy, retired company quartermaster Sgt said the group was "deflated" despite assurances from the Taoiseach Micheál Martin that a statutory inquiry would go ahead if recommended by the review.

The women, made up of former Defence Force members who have detailed allegations of sexual abuse, harassment and discrimination, have been highly critical of the Government’s decision to set up a judge-led independent review.

Ms Molloy said that the Women of Honour group hoped that the review would lead to a statutory inquiry following concerns that the review would be limited in its powers. In particular, the review would lack the power to compel witnesses to testify.

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A statutory inquiry was needed to root out the systemic problems within the force, Ms Molloy told RTÉ radio's Today with Claire Byrne.

“This review is not fit for purpose, it will not get to the root of the problem,” she said.

When asked why the group had not walked out of the meeting with the Taoiseach as they had done during a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney last week. Ms Molloy said the Taoiseach revealed that a statutory inquiry would not be going ahead an hour and a half into the meeting.

“We had hoped to talk more and to persuade him,” she said.

Statutory power

Ms Molloy said the review was not going to address what happens to members of the Defence Forces after they make a complaint, the isolation, the coercion, how they lose out on promotions, how they are frequently “left behind”.

Those who make complaints are frequently accused of being troublemakers, she said.

The terms of reference of the review would only allow for recommendations to be made, said Ms Molloy. It would not have the statutory power to compel evidence or witnesses to explain what happens after reports were made.

"Yes, trust has been broken," said Ms Molloy.

How much more serious would an issue have to be to merit a statutory inquiry, she asked. The issues involved included sexual assault and rape, she said.