Women of Honour 'disappointed' over funding dispute

The Women of Honour group is refusing to attend the Defence Forces Tribunal in a dispute over funding for its participation.

The Government established a Tribunal of Inquiry to examine allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination in the Defence Forces following the recommendations of an independent review group, which came after reports of abusive behaviour were made by Women of Honour.

The group is seeking State funding for its participation in the tribunal and is currently seeking a judicial review into the matter.

The tribunal entered its second day of public oral hearings today - with the continued absence of representation for the Women of Honour.

The group said it does not "feel it is appropriate to attend the tribunal at this time given the extraordinary current funding situation".

In a statement, Women of Honour said: "As the advocacy group that sought and fought for the statutory inquiry, it is ironic now that those being investigated have the resources and we have none.

"There is a fundamental flaw in the tribunal process in Ireland where those being investigated are also the sponsoring department of an investigation into itself and its agencies."

The group said it had advocated for an independent body to decide who gets funding, or for it to fall under the Department of Taoiseach or Tánaiste.

It added: "Our judicial review seeks interim funding to be given to us by the Minister for Defence.

"To date and after more than a year of applications, we have been constantly refused.

"As the tribunal has moved to oral hearings, it is disappointing we are not represented."

Women of Honour said it "is not right" that the Department of Defence would have control over funding of groups for the tribunal.

"For victims, the refusal to grant the same standing on funding as those being investigated is compounding the trauma, stress, hurt and pain.

"It implies the victims are not central to this inquiry, but somehow peripheral.

"It appears as more punishment for having had the nerve to seek a statutory Tribunal of Inquiry," it said.

The Department of Defence said Minister for Defence Helen McEntee recognises the significant role the Women of Honour played in bringing the matters into the public domain which led to the establishment of the tribunal.

It said matters of legal representation and associated costs fall within the remit of the tribunal in accordance with Section 6 of the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Amendment) Act 1979.

It said the minister "does not have the ability to interfere in this independent process".

It said Malcomson Law, the legal firm representing the Women of Honour, had been granted limited representation during the investigative stage on 22 July 2024.

The department said the tribunal deferred its decision in respect of the extent of legal representation, if any, during the public hearings stage of its work.

It said: "The tribunal has set out in its procedures that applications for legal representation or additional legal representation on behalf of persons who believe that they are entitled to same, should be made, in writing, to the tribunal.

"The Women of Honour have also sought financial assistance to support their own group activities.

"The group have been requested a number of times in the past 18 months to provide copies of their governance and organisation documents to allow for consideration of their request in line with normal governance procedures."

It added: "These details are required to assist in the oversight, management and safeguard of public financial expenditure.

"Documents were supplied to the Department just before the Bank Holiday on Friday May 29 2026 and are now being considered."

The tribunal has been contacted for comment.