I broke the silence on Defence Forces abuse, we need a full public inquiry like no other to finally expose the truth
IRELAND was rocked this week by revelations of sickening abuse in the Defence Forces.
A report from the Independent Review Group (IRG) exposed incidents including rape, bullying and harassment.
The Defence Forces’ shame first emerged after a group of retired female soldiers banded together to form the Women of Honour in 2021. The Government then got experts to carry out a wide-ranging probe of the military.
Many former members of the Army, Navy and Air Corps came forward to share their shocking experiences, each speaking on an anonymous basis.
Some 527 serving members also took part in a survey, with 25 per cent saying they had experienced sexual harassment.
And Defence Minister Micheal Martin says the sickening culture of cover-ups and abuse still remains in our military today.
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Women of Honour member Yvonne O’Rourke is a former Air Corps Captain who came forward after she was sexually assaulted by a senior officer.
Writing in The Irish Sun, she says a statutory inquiry like no other must now happen.
'YOU ARE EXPOSED'
ONCE your story is told, you are exposed.
Some people gravitate towards you and perceive you as some sort of hero.
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Others turn away and can no longer look you in the eye. The shame you felt after being sexually abused returns, albeit for a brief second.
Have they any idea that you told your story in the first place to be finally free?
Their actions in ignoring this truth brings in itself more hurt.
The questions you must now address: Did you actually do the right thing? Are you now different in their eyes?
The few who believe in you are suddenly smothered and suffocated by the many who can no longer acknowledge or speak to you.
Are they afraid of you or maybe ashamed of what they perceive you have become?
But you are the same person, aren’t you?
'RIGHT THING TO DO'
The pain returns, but you endure it as penance because deep down you know this was the right thing to do, it was the only thing to do.
There are many more suffering and someone had to do something, otherwise the vile, toxic masculine culture would remain.
A sacrificial lamb, perhaps? But evil thrives when good people do nothing and someone had to do something.
So, I spoke, I broke the silence in the hope that many more would not endure the crippling internal pain to which I was exposed.
I spoke, so others could finally find their voices that were buried away deep within the debris of life’s pain.
I spoke, so the trauma could be named and exposed for the vile and perverted action it was — although it almost killed me.
I spoke, and was joined by others. But was it the right thing to do?
What is the point of another statutory inquiry? What will that do for the country?
God, not yet another statutory inquiry, that will cost the taxpayer money!
These are some of the questions that I have heard this past week.
AN INQUIRY LIKE NO OTHER
But be assured, this statutory inquiry will have to be like no other.
In most inquiries, what’s being investigated is historical. In this one, the crimes are still live.
It will be different because we hope it will be designed differently, that its blueprint will be formed by the very heart, sweat and tears of those who were discriminated against, victimised, mobbed, harassed, sexually harassed and raped.
This inquiry by a judge in public will be victim/survivor-led, for we know the damage that was done to our lives by the atrocities we suffered.
Our moral compass will not allow us to do anything more than get this right.
So, yes, a statutory inquiry is worth it, because this one will finally expose the complete and entire truth in the Defence Forces, and the truth will set the country free.
This is the time to finally shine God’s light on the other areas of darkness that need to be revealed in the Defence Forces.
I hope that the victims now getting this inquiry will smooth the path, pave the way forward.
And that it will inspire those left behind, to have their difficulties, hurts, issues and problems of discrimination, victimisation, bullying, mobbing, harassment and sexual harassment heard and subsequently addressed in a more expedient fashion than during the many years when I struggled for justice.
'SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER'
Now is the moment to rise up and raise your voices like trumpets. This is the time to finally be heard, and speak truth to power.
Rise up, Defence Forces’ personnel of Ireland, and break the shackles of silence that imprisoned your life.
Your voice and breath have finally been restored, so speak your truth with confidence.
For the shame that silenced us in the past, because of the abuse we endured, is not ours, it never was. It is theirs. So, speak and leave the cocoon prison of despair, and fly into the wondrous world of hope, joy, love and truth.
There is a lifetime of happiness waiting, once you put a name on what happened to you.
