A former soldier has sued the Army for damages, alleging he suffered a psychiatric illness and post traumatic stress as a result of events in Lebanon some 20 years ago, including the deaths of two Irish soldiers who were his friends.
Former private Victor Murtagh (41), a father of six, was discharged from the Army on health grounds in 1998 and now works in the construction industry.
He claims he did not receive any counselling or treatment from the Army for severe anxiety attacks and stress-related illness sustained as a result of his experiences during his first and only tour of duty in Lebanon in 1986/1987. It was only in 1996 that he was diagnosed by an Army psychiatrist as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, it is claimed.
Mr Murtagh, Pearse Road, Ballymote, Co Sligo, flew to Lebanon on his 21st birthday in October 1986 into an atmosphere of huge hostility, his counsel, Pádraig McCartan SC, told the court yesterday. Unifil troops were coming under regular fire and there were regular gun battles.
On December 6th, 1986, a fellow soldier and friend of Mr Murtagh, Pte William O'Brien, was killed and Mr Murtagh had a "sort of fit" when that occurred and received medical treatment, counsel said.
Army medical notes relating to that incident recorded that Mr Murtagh may have experienced an acute anxiety attack and this was the first incident which should have alerted the Army that Mr Murtagh was not fit to be on duty, counsel said.
Mr Murtagh and some other Irish troops had returned to Ireland for Christmas 1986 and, while at home, Mr Murtagh and his wife had socialised with Cpl Dermot McLoughlin and the latter's wife, counsel said. They returned to Lebanon in January 1987 into a very dangerous atmosphere.
On January 10th, 1987, Unifil troops came under direct fire from Israeli troops, counsel said. Cpl McLoughlin was ordered earlier that day to staff a checkpoint and Mr Murtagh was also on duty, riding shotgun on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) from one checkpoint to another.
The Israelis were firing artillery at the checkpoints although flares were sent up to show they were firing at Unifil troops.
Mr Murtagh was in "a state of terror" and was pinned down in a civilian house, counsel said.
He had a radio and learned from it that APCs were trying to get the soldiers out of the checkpoints which remained under fire. He learned Cpl McLoughlin had been killed and had a bad reaction to that.
When the bus carrying Irish troops returning from a service for Cpl McLoughlin came under fire, Mr Murtagh had returned fire and was disarmed and jailed for three days. He also suffered a fit for which he was hospitalised.
Mr Murtagh had remained in Lebanon until his tour ended in April 1987, Mr McCartan said.
A medical note on his file at that time stated he had "no psychiatric problem", but had a relatively immature personality which made him liable to anxiety when under pressure and recommended he not be sent overseas for three years.
Mr McCartan said it was his case that Mr Murtagh did have psychiatric problems as a result of his experiences in Lebanon. It is claimed Mr Murtagh suffered severe depression after his return to Ireland, considerably exacerbated by drinking binges. He had received in-patient treatment at a psychiatric hospital on a number of occasions.
The Army has denied the claims relating to post-traumatic stress and psychiatric illness but has accepted Mr Murtagh is entitled to some €2,650 damages for hearing loss.
The hearing continues.
