Many soldiers who were among the first Irish contingent to serve in Lebanon in 1978 wanted to go home because they "couldn't handle it", it was claimed by a former soldier in the High Court yesterday.
One soldier took his rifle and threatened to shoot himself in the foot if he wasn't sent home, the court heard. Mr Christopher Noel McNamara, a former soldier sent to Lebanon in 1978, said he believed between 20 and 40 soldiers were sent home that year.
He said a Sgt McDermott had asked him to look after Mr Christopher Knowles, then serving with the 43rd Infantry Battalion. The sergeant told him Mr Knowles had "gone wonky", was "not too good" and was on medication.
Mr McNamara said he was friendly with Mr Knowles prior to going to Lebanon but, when he met him there, he was a different person who seemed "shattered".
Mr Knowles was crying and upset and had been in hospital shortly after his arrival, the witness said. Mr Knowles wanted to go home and was allowed to sleep outside his unit with Mr McNamara and two others. Mr Knowles' rifle was taken from him but the witness did not know why.
Mr McNamara said he had asked Sgt McDermott several times to let Mr Knowles go home but gave up asking after a number of weeks. The sergeant had told him the matter would have to go to Mr Knowles' infantry sergeant.
Yesterday was the second day of the action for damages by Mr Knowles (45), of St Rowan's Park, Clondalkin, against the Minister for Defence and the State. Mr Knowles claims he suffers post traumatic stress disorder as a result of his experiences with the Army in Lebanon in 1978.
In a preliminary ruling yesterday, Mr Justice O'Donovan rejected the State's claim that the action was statute barred. He noted that although no proceedings were taken until 1997, Mr Knowles had said it was only in 1995, when he first saw a psychiatrist, he learned his problems related to events in 1978.
