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  • Girl trouble

    Soldier cleared over failure to repel woolly intruders



    Private John Foley is pictured after being acquitted at a courtmartial hearing in the Curragh, Co Kildare, yesterday


    By Louise Hogan
    Wednesday May 20 2009

    FAILING to keep the 'girls' off an army base might seem a serious offence.
    But when the 'girls' in question have four legs and their own woolly coats, it begins to look far less like a breach of discipline.
    So when a soldier found himself court-martialled by the Defence Forces for allowing sheep onto his base, he knew he had to make a stand. Yesterday, the 23-year-old was vindicated after he was acquitted on three charges before a rare court-martial hearing.
    The exact circumstances of the case were rather unusual as the charges related to Private John Foley's duties of keeping marauding sheep from infiltrating the grounds of the Defence Forces' Curragh camp base in Co Kildare.
    It also emerged in the course of the court-martial hearing that the sheep have been fondly given the title of 'girls' by some of the Defence Forces members tasked with removing the woolly intruders.
    The delighted 23-year-old private of the 3rd Infantry Battalion at the Curragh, speaking after the hearing, said: "It shows you should stand up for yourself in the Defence Forces, but within good reason and judgment."
    The three charges related to his designation as 'Sheep Warden' for a 24-hour period from February 9 until February 10 last.
    This task required patrolling the grounds of the camp in the Curragh on a two-hour basis to ensure the hundreds of sheep roaming freely on the plains did not access the barrack grounds. The army private, represented by solicitor Fergus O'Regan, pleaded not guilty under military law to all three charges.
    This included knowingly signing the 'proforma' work plan for 'Camp Sheep Warden', knowing that the details were false. He was also charged with failing to report back to the logistics headquarters after completing his duties, and going AWOL for one day.
    A solicitor for Pte Foley argued it would be unfair to convict him as he had not been placed on notice that he was considered AWOL and believed he was on his rest period after completing his 24 hours of duties.
    Colonel Anthony McCourt, the military judge, said the evidence demonstrated a clear need to review the practices and procedures for the task.
    - Louise Hogan

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    Say NO to violence against Women

    Originally posted by hedgehog
    My favourite moment was when the
    Originally posted by hedgehog
    red headed old dear got a smack on her ginger head

  • #2
    Originally posted by Groundhog View Post
    marauding sheep
    Being from the city I know little about sheep.

    Are they not dosile?

    Can they actualy be described as marauding?
    Without supplies no army is brave.

    —Frederick the Great,

    Instructions to his Generals, 1747

    Comment


    • #3
      Sure if you keep sheep around the place then you don't need to pay anyone to cut the grass. Don't they know there's a recession on?

      Comment


      • #4
        They are all over the Curragh Camp inside and out. The Cattle grids don't stop them. Neither will Privates. Its simply the way of things.

        Maybe they should try a sheep perambulation?
        It is only by contemplation of the incompetent that we can appreciate the difficulties and accomplishments of the competent.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Bam Bam View Post
          The Cattle grids don't stop them.
          They have gucci new barriers to stop sheep from getting in now.

          Comment


          • #6
            You mean those stupid barriers that only read a car bumper and not a marching body of troops?
            It is only by contemplation of the incompetent that we can appreciate the difficulties and accomplishments of the competent.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Barry View Post
              They have gucci new barriers to stop sheep from getting in now.
              Them barriers were to stop your average joe soap from just driving around the camp. If they put them cattle gates everywhere in the camp and repaired some of the damaged fences they could keep them out and not have to have someone on a stupid duty for a day.
              Don't stand there GAWPING, like you've never seen the hand of God BEFORE!!

              Comment


              • #8
                Poor b'stard - his life will be pure misery from now on....

                No doubt there will be much merriment over on ARRSE when they get this one....
                Last edited by Truck Driver; 20 May 2009, 19:13.
                "Well, stone me! We've had cocaine, bribery and Arsenal scoring two goals at home. But just when you thought there were truly no surprises left in football, Vinnie Jones turns out to be an international player!" (Jimmy Greaves)!"

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                • #9
                  thats a good one for the books I thought it was a joke at first.. it must be the most stupid duty in the defence forces.. who owns the sheep... it should make all the headlines. and the oc of the curragh must be one of our elderly chaps who change nothing.... a duty for cadets..

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by golden rivet View Post
                    .... a duty for cadets..
                    Now THAT would make for headlines....
                    "Well, stone me! We've had cocaine, bribery and Arsenal scoring two goals at home. But just when you thought there were truly no surprises left in football, Vinnie Jones turns out to be an international player!" (Jimmy Greaves)!"

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Barry View Post
                      Sure if you keep sheep around the place then you don't need to pay anyone to cut the grass. Don't they know there's a recession on?
                      The French Air Force are well ahead. They've embraced the llama for that purpose!



                      You will never have a quiet world until you knock the patriotism out of the human race

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                      • #12
                        Yep, our finest are sweating their bollix off in Chad while the State feels the need to charge a guy for neglecting a stupid duty.How much did that cost? There are thousands of sheep on the Curragh. Quite how a single individual is expected to police them is beyond me, especially given that sheep and horses seem to have greater rights on the Curragh than humans.
                        regards
                        GttC

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Why did he not go to the QM and draw a sheepdog for the day

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            "One Man and His Dog: Curragh Edition"

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              now that babe has finished his film career the army could offer him a job , but with the recruitment ban and the swine flu the army will have to do without ,,,
                              did he have to go on a special course ? would it be run by the equestrian school or was he sent on detachment to the IFA ,
                              "take a look to the sky right before you die, its the last time you will"

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