Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 23 September 2025

Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen

Engagement with the Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces

Mr. Justice Alan Mahon: My own view is that there is a completely different atmosphere now in terms of that type of behaviour. Any member of the Defence Forces who would engage in that sort of behaviour would need to have his or her head examined. Previously, there was a degree of toleration and there were problems for female personnel who tried to make complaints. Their complaints were not taken on board, according to a lot of the information we have from the Women of Honour group. Now, however, the powers that be in the Defence Forces would be far more receptive to complaints. I would like to think, and I am probably correct in this, that that type of activity has reduced. One will always get some things happening but it has very much receded.

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