Soldier's account of 'friendship' disputed

The widow of an Irish soldier who died in Lebanon in 1987 has disputed claims that another soldier, who has sued the Army for…

The widow of an Irish soldier who died in Lebanon in 1987 has disputed claims that another soldier, who has sued the Army for damages for alleged post-traumatic stress as a result of that death and other events in Lebanon, had been a friend of her late husband.

Rosario Holly McLoughlin, giving evidence for the State in the action brought by former Private Victor Murtagh, rejected suggestions that she and her late husband, Cpl Dermot McLoughlin, had been drinking and socialising together with Mr Murtagh and the latter's wife at Christmas 1986, just weeks before her husband was killed.

In proceedings which opened before Mr Justice Declan Budd on January 24th, Mr Murtagh (41), a father of six, claims he did not receive any counselling or treatment from the Army for severe anxiety attacks and stress- related illness sustained as a result of his experiences during his first and only tour of duty in Lebanon in 1986/1987.

Mr Murtagh was discharged from the Army on health grounds in 1998 and now works in the construction industry,

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It was only in 1996 that he was diagnosed by an army psychiatrist as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, it is claimed.

The Army has denied the claims relating to post-traumatic stress and psychiatric illness but has accepted Mr Murtagh is entitled to some €2,650 damages for hearing loss.