Women of Honour finally 'vindicated' but justice far from over

The Independent Review Group (IRG-DF) final report on Dignity and Equality issues within the Defence Forces was published this week.

And while the report makes “stark reading”, it is at last, an acknowledgment of the wrongdoings that have been experienced by females and others, within the Defence Forces, Donegal member of the ‘Women of Honor’ Group, Karina Molloy has said.

The Ardara native spent 31 years in the Irish Defence Forces and was the first female to get promoted to the rank of senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) rank.

She left in 2012, largely because of her treatment within the Force, some of which she described as harrowing. In recent months she has also published a book, which had cast a light on many dark shadows, within the same Forces, during the decades in which she served her country.

“Firstly, we feel as a group vindicated. Everything that we have been saying and I have been saying, and all the Women of Honor’s careers and all of the victims, past a present, that it’s now true,” Karina told the Democrat.

“We finally are being heard. They are finally acknowledging what has happened to us. The report has finally given us our acknowledgement and we are finally going to see justice.

“We are looking for a victim-led full statutory inquiry which is going to compel witnesses and provide documentation. And after that Inquiry comes to fruition, that it is sent to the DPP and it will be their decision whether criminal charges will come out of that, ” she said.

“That and only that is going to remove the systemic, misogynistic culture from the Defence Forces, once and for all,” she added.

At present she said that there is a difference in what the ‘Women of Honour’ Group want and what the Tanaiste is prepared to offer, going forward.

She said: “He is offering us an inquiry, but we don’t know what kind. Is it going to be judicial or a fully public commissioned one? Thankfully, we will be going back to the table with him next week and we can discuss and clarify that.”

She said that unlike the IRG report that had just been published, they would be insisting in being involved in the terms of reference of the next Inquiry.

“It is stark reading and shocking for any civilians to be reading, but not any serving member, I can tell you. It is a watershed moment and history has been made,” the former CQMS explained.

The victim-led statutory inquiry, restorative justice, an independent complaints system of unacceptable behaviour and culture reform “within an organisation that barely tolerates women” is a step forward.

The only way accountability would be seen, was by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces “having the moral courage” to start discharging people who have done wrong, she concluded.

Commenting on the publication, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin said that the report had “pulled no punches”.

It made for stark reading and raised “the most profound issues”.

“To be frank, notwithstanding the work of the very many good people who serve, this Report makes clear that the culture and work environment that exists within the Defence Forces in 2023, is simply and entirely unacceptable.

Pioneering Irish Army’s Karina Molloy casts light on dark shadows

Former Irish soldier from Ardara served 31 years in Irish Defence Forces

“While this report addresses both men and women’s experience, the experience of many women, in particular, within the Defence Forces has been appalling,” he said.

“We have agreed to establish a statutory inquiry into how complaints were handled, and I will bring terms of reference to Government shortly.”