AN ARMY OFFICER has appeared before a military court on charges of possession of two smoke grenades in his home and of making a racially abusive text about a fellow officer.

The accused, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has appeared this morning before a Court Martial at McKee Barracks in Dublin.

Stringent media restrictions have been placed on the case in which no one involved can be identified and the unit to which the officer is attached must also not be revealed. 

The soldier was before the court on two charges relating to committing conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to section 168(1) of the Defence Act 1954.

The first charge relates to a garda search of a house in which the accused was living in November 2024 by detectives with help from a military Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. 

The gardaí entered the house using an Offences Against the State Act warrant and in a shed they found two military smoke grenades. These were examined by a Captain attached to the bomb disposal team. 

The second charge relates to an incident in which he was in a relationship with a woman who was not a military member and in the course of a private text message exchange with her he spoke about a military officer he knew and made a racial slur. The accused ended the message with a laughing face emoji.

The military Judge Colonel Michael Campion also heard evidence from a civilian social worker employed by the Irish Defence Forces. 

She had hosted a restorative justice meeting between the accused and the officer he made the racial slur against. 

The social worker said that the meeting went well and that there was a “really successful outcome”.

A barrister defending the officer said that the grenades had been retained by the officer after a training exercise. The barrister said that there was “no evidence of improper use”. 

The Judge asked the defence barrister about the future of the accused officer in the Irish Defence Forces. The barrister told the court that it was his client’s intention to apply to resign his commission and leave the military on the conclusion of the case. 

The defence counsel, in response to a question by Colonel Campion, said that the accused would not change his mind. 

The judge said he would not finalise the sentence for the accused officer and that he would adjourn the case to a later date so that he could consider the evidence. 

The sentencing will take place on 24 March next.