ABUSE CLAIMS 'ARE TIP OF THE ICEBERG'

Ex-Army chief had sent 2,000 files to Defence Minister

- SYLVIA POWNALL

AN independent report into allegations of sexual abuse within the Defence Forces has found it is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Barrister Ruth Fitzgerald conducted an independent assessment of actions following correspondence received from retired army sergeant Anthony O'Brien.

He sent over 2,000 documents to the Minister for Defence including information alleging sexual abuse, rape and incest over four decades in the Defence Forces.

In total there were details of 61 offences alleged to have been committed in the workplace against 19 females and 33 males.