An inquiry into the forced retirement of former Army Lieut Mr Dónal de Róiste more than 30 years ago has found no evidence to sustain allegations that he was victimised by senior officers in the Defence Forces.
The report, released yesterday, said it was not possible to say whether or not there was a breach of fair procedures in the affair, given the documentation available.
That documentation, it added, should now be released to Mr de Róiste "so as to ensure that he can satisfy himself" as to their contents and as to the transparency of the review.
The Department of Defence yesterday announced that all such documentation would be so released.
Mr de Róiste, a brother of the former presidential candidate, Ms Adi Roche, had criticised the manner of his retirement in 1969 by the then president, Eamon de Valera.
He claimed he had never been given a reason for the decision, and said he believed he had been "framed" by senior officers because he had refused to testify against one of them who had been involved in a road traffic incident in 1967.
In a statement last night, the Roche family said while there was "nothing new" in the report, "we have reached another level in unravelling the story and we welcome the opportunity to finally see the files in order to clear Dónal's good name and reputation."
The report, conducted by Judge Advocate General Ms Oonah McCrann at the request of the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, found there was nothing in the documentation which suggested a connection between the 1967 road incident and Mr de Róiste's retirement.
Moreover, the report found that the former lieutenant was aware of the circumstances which gave rise to his retirement and that he was given a number of opportunities to respond.
It noted the Director of Intelligence received information in April 1969 to the effect that Mr de Róiste was "in the social company" of members of an IRA splinter group. Subsequently, he was seen talking to a member of this splinter group.
