A senior army officer has told the High Court he was certain that, prior to their tour of duty in Lebanon, soldiers at the Kilworth Army barracks in Co Cork had attended lectures on stress and personal support services (PSS).
Lieut Col Joe Buckley was giving evidence in the continuing action by Cpl Francis Corbett, who alleges he was traumatised after being exposed to serious incidents in Lebanon, and that the Army was negligent in its duty towards him.
Cpl Corbett (32), Harrington Square, Cork, is seeking damages for post-traumatic stress arising out of a number of incidents he witnessed in Lebanon where he began his first tour of duty some weeks before his 18th birthday. His action is against the Attorney General and the Minister for Defence.
He claims that, some weeks short of his 18th birthday in April 1991, he saw an Israeli soldier blown up by a mine. He also claims to have witnessed a UN helicopter crash in 1997, killing all on board. Cpl Corbett also claims he saw four or five Israeli soldiers blown up by a mine in 1993.
Yesterday, after Dr John O'Mahony SC, for Cpl Corbett, said a number of soldiers had given evidence of having no recollection of any public lectures, Lieut Col Buckley responded that those lectures did take place in March 1997. A Sgt Buckley had informed him he had delivered the lectures, but could not remember the precise date.
Dr O'Mahony suggested Sgt Buckley did not give any such lecture in March 1997 prior to the troops leaving for Lebanon.
Lieut Col Buckley said he had been informed that Sgt Buckley had conducted all the personal-support-services lectures for departing troops during the late 1990s.
Retired Comdt Dr Nora Curran said she conducted a medical assessment of Cpl Corbett at the end of his tour of duty in April 1998. She had asked him if he was feeling well. She had categorised him as fit, both physically and psychologically.
She agreed the assessments could be as short as five minutes.
In denying negligence, the defence is pleading that Cpl Corbett had volunteered for and returned to Lebanon for four periods, and had failed to complain of any symptoms.
The hearing continues today.