Soldier tells court pizza was 'spiked'

A soldier has brought a High Court challenge to his proposed discharge from the Army after he tested positive for cannabis.

Pte John White claims the positive test came about because he had eaten a pizza which had been, unknown to him, "spiked" with cannabis resin as "a prank".

The action by Pte White, Rockhill House, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, against the Minister for Defence opened yesterday before Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill and continues today.

Pte White claims the Defence Forces failed to properly apply provisions and instructions in relation to random drug testing and acted unfairly and disproportionately in making the decision to recommend his discharge. It failed to consider the circumstances of the matter or to apply the presumption of innocence, he claims. The Minister has denied the claims.

The judge was told a friend of Pte White had spiked a pizza with cannabis and had written a letter to the soldier's superiors admitting he had spiked the pizza after having "pangs of conscience".