Female recruits at Cork naval base barricaded themselves in bedrooms after discovering 'sex act' performed on their underwear

Female recruits barricaded themselves in their bedrooms out of fear of being raped at the Haulbowline Irish Naval Base in Cork, the Defence Forces Tribunal has heard.

They did this after an unidentified male performed a sex act on their underwear while they were away from the base on a six-day training course at Cork’s Kilworth Camp from August 14, 2011. They discovered, on their return, “what looked like semen” had been left on underwear in drawers in their room, access to which could only be gained via a swipe card.

Although extra security measures were put in place more than a year after the event, the tribunal heard that no interim safety measures were adopted for the two women. This was, the tribunal heard, because investigating military police admitted they had no concerns about their safety despite the nature of the incident.

As a result, women ended up putting chains and padlocks on drawers where they stored their clothes and other private belongings. They also had to put chests of drawers up against the door at night.

One of the recruits, Sinead Doyle, told the Defence Forces Tribunal of her horror at making the discovery when she returned with her roommate to the room they shared at the navy base at Haulbowline, in Co Cork.

Ms Doyle, who joined the Defence Forces in May 2011 at the age of 20, said the roommates were the only two females among around 50 male recruits and service personnel at an accommodation block they lived in.

Neither of the two women reported the incident because, at the time, they were due to go on shore leave and they didn’t want to "jeopardise" that. Ms Doyle was also so embarrassed about it that she didn’t even want to tell her parents.

It later emerged that the incident was one of a number that had happened, including on another occasion in July 2011. It also emerged that whoever entered their room did it again a few days later on three separate occasions in one day.

“I was worried about my safety and security,” Ms Doyle told the tribunal. 

“Not knowing who had access to my room was a very vulnerable position to be in."

"I even had to make sure nobody was in my room before I went to bed. It caused a lot of anxiety."

She later testified that the incident led to her becoming increasingly paranoid about her safety so that she couldn’t trust people she was serving with, and it affected her mentally.

Ms Doyle said she was worried that whoever had performed a sex act on her clothing “may be capable of more serious sexual assaults”.

But it later emerged that an individual had been identified who had committed “a relevant offence” and who was later given the benefit of an adult caution by gardaí.

Forensic analysis later confirmed that deposits found on clothing and bed sheets from the female recruits’ room were semen.

Judge Ann Power asked if Ms Doyle thought she had been "actively deterred” from pursuing her complaint. She said the way she was treated was “active deterrence” and led to her quitting the Defence Forces.