A former platoon commander accused of the mistreatment of recruits at the former Army Apprentice School in Devoy Barracks in Naas has told the Defence Forces Tribunal that he denies ever mistreating any member of his platoon.

He can only be identified as 2LTB for legal reasons.

Addressing the tribunal, 2LTB acknowledged that witnesses had made “allegations of abuse” against him.

“I do not doubt the sincerity with which they hold their views,” 2LTB said.

“I would regret any perception or feelings they have.

“I do have to deny that I ever mistreated any member of the 34th Platoon or any other Apprentice,” he said.

The Tribunal of Inquiry is looking at how the force dealt with complaints of abuse over four decades, from 1983 to 2024.

2LTB told the tribunal that he started as platoon leader in 1989 at 20 years of age.

He said that the two other platoon commanders at the school left shortly afterwards, and as a result, he was effectively the only platoon commander for three platoons of 157 recruits, who he believed were aged between “17 and approaching 20”.

2LTB said that there was no induction course and accepted that he was not trained or adequately experienced to take on that role.

“I certainly would add to that that I didn’t know that I didn’t have the requisite training and experience,” 2LTB told the tribunal.

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The tribunal previously heard witnesses who alleged that 2LTB ordered a recruit to eat cigarette butts; forcibly cut the hair of apprentices; allegedly ordered apprentice Oliver Mullaney to sing and then kiss other recruits two days before he died by suicide on 22 June 1991; and allegedly assaulted and screamed at another recruit, Damien Traynor, while demanding that he sign his own army discharge papers.

The tribunal heard 2LTB had reservations about the how the allegations against him in relation to his treatment of Damien Traynor were investigated.

It heard that he had concerns that “carte blanche” may have been given “to any apprentice” who might have a “minor gripe”.

The Tribunal heard that 2LTB has spoken about his concerns with the officer looking into the allegations.

Sole member of the tribunal, Ms Justice Ann Power, asked if was appropriate for him to “intervene”.

2LTB said “it wasn’t an intervention, it was a conversation” and he said that he did not “regard it as inappropriate”.

The tribunal heard that at the time 2LTB had made a verbal request for a transfer at the time as he felt his position was “untenable”.

However, his request was refused.

2LTB told the tribunal that the officer who informed him told him that “the GOC (General Officer Commanding) doesn’t agree, he doesn’t want to let the bullies win”.

The tribunal heard that the officer who carried out the report described 2LTB as “hardworking” and “enthusiastic”.

His superior concluded that 2LTB was an “excellent officer” and “if he were to be punished, discipline at the Army Apprentice School would be badly undermined”.

2LTB said that he didn’t know the outcome of the reports until a civil claim was later initiated.

Mr Cush SC asked 2LTB if he agreed that “in general terms” that the reports had exonerated him and demonised Mr Traynor.

“I don’t think it exonerated me,” he said, “but it certainly doesn’t reflect well on Mr Traynor”.

Former platoon commander denies recruits confined to barracks as punishment

When asked about apprentice, Oliver Mullaney, who died by suicide in June 1991, 2LTB described his death as “an immense tragedy”.

He said that it was “immeasurable in terms of its impact and to be associated with his passing is quite a serious matter”.

Shortly after Mr Mullaney’s death, the tribunal heard that 2LTB had requested a transfer from Devoy Barracks but requested that the transfer be delayed until August 1991.

He wrote that due to past incidents he had become “the victim of a slur campaign by persons unknown”.

“I realise my request comes rather soon after the recent tragic end of Apprentice Mullaney in barracks.

“I wish to disassociate myself from any involvement in the incident. I do not wish to be made a sort of scapegoat.”

2LTB was transferred, but it was not delayed as requested.

When asked by Michael Cush SC for the tribunal if he felt scapegoated, 2LTB responded: “I feel very strongly about it and yes I do.”

Gareth Compton SC for some of the witnesses, asked 2LTB about an alleged incident in which 2LTB put a cigarette in the nose of an apprentice that he had found smoking.

The tribunal heard that 2LTB had written that this was done “to embarrass him” and to “get the message across”.

2LTB told the Tribunal that the context in which this occurred, was that a soldier at another barracks had “unfortunately perished in a fire”.

Mr Compton also asked 2LTB about allegations that recruits were confined to barracks as a punishment.

2LTB said that he did not accept those allegations.

“I have read what’s been alleged and I don’t agree that that was something that happened… it does not compute and I don’t accept it,” 2LTB said.

The tribunal can not make any findings about individuals.

Sole member of the tribunal, Ms Justice Ann Power, reiterated that the tribunal’s focus was on complaint procedures, and asked that questions be limited to that issue.

The Defence Forces Tribunal was established in June 2024 following the publication of a report by the Independent Review Group (IRG) in March 2023.

That report found “deep” and “long-standing issues around unacceptable behaviours” in the Defence Forces and that “a complaints handling system that was not fit for purpose”.

The tribunal is investigating whether complaints of abuse were “actively deterred or whether there was a culture that discouraged the making of complaints of abuse”.

The first round of public hearings are due to conclude on 10 July.