A MEMBER of the Naval Service is to appear before a military court over allegedly supplying information to criminals on the movement of Naval vessels, The Irish Timeshas learned.
It is unclear to whom the sailor was allegedly trying to supply the information.
However, the Naval Service conducts patrols in Irish waters aimed at combating drugs trafficking and the smuggling of other contraband, such as cigarettes.
The sailor’s case was listed before a court martial hearing last Friday in Co Cork. The case was down for a brief “mention” hearing to organise a full hearing at a later date.
The sailor will now appear before a court martial hearing on April 13th next on the naval base in Haulbowline, Co Cork.
The case is believed to be the first time ever that a member of the Naval Service will face charges with supplying information on the movement of Naval vessels.
The exact charges against the sailor will not be known until they are outlined at the court martial in April.
News of the allegations first surfaced last November.
However, it was not known before now that the military authorities have decided the man has a case to answer and are pursuing him through the Court Martial process.
Gardaí have also been involved in the investigation and it is possible the sailor at the centre of the allegations will also face a criminal trial once his court martial has been concluded.
The Irish Timesunderstands the sailor first came under suspicion last summer. Regularly conducted security checks suggested information on the movement of vessels had allegedly been disclosed by the sailor to civilians.
The Defence Forces military police began an investigation into the matter and the sailor was deployed to duties where he did not have access to information on vessel movements.
A file on the case was compiled by the military police and sent for consideration to the Director of Military Prosecutions, the military’s equivalent of the DPP.
The matter has now been progressed to the court martial stage, meaning charges are being pursued against the sailor involved.
The case is being handled under the provisions of the Defence Act. Gardaí have been aware of the case at all times and have assisted with the investigation.
The court martial is similar to a civilian court in that the Defence Forces will have a prosecuting counsel and the defendant will also be legally represented.
Court martial proceedings take place before a military judge. A jury of Defence Forces officers decides the verdict with the judge imposing a punishment, which can include a period of detention in a military jail.
A new court martial system was introduced in 2007 by the then minister for defence Willie O’Dea TD.
Before then, officers rather than a military judge ran the proceedings.