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MORE SUPPORTS NEED to be put in place to help veterans who previously served in the Irish Defence Forces, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) has said.
ONE said many veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health issues, and in some cases alcoholism and homelessness.
ONE runs 15 support centres around the country and three homeless hostels – in Dublin, Donegal and Athlone. The charity is currently building a fourth hostel in Cobh, Co Cork.
Diarmuid Higgins, President of ONE, served in the Navy for 21 years. He said he was “lucky” as he came out with a trade – he was a trained electrician – and was able to find other work.
Many other veterans struggle to find another job and, if they leave before completing 21 years’ service, don’t get a pension.
Higgins (60) joined the Navy when he was just 17 years old and, despite his skillset, initially struggled to adjust to civilian life when he retired in 1998 aged 38.
“When I came out I was convinced I was obsolete and hadn’t kept up with advances in ‘civilian street’. It took me a while to adjust. I was afraid that I didn’t know what I was going into.
“I think a lot of people who come out [of the Defence Forces] don’t realise the skills that they have, that is something that we have to try and address.”
Higgins said veterans’ pride can also stop them from seeking help they may need, such as counselling.
“People have come out with problems – PTSD, addiction problems, relationship problems – and there’s no real support there for them and they just fall between the cracks.
“One of our biggest problems is our pride, we think ‘We were soldiers, we were air men, I can manage, I don’t need help’, instead of actually thinking ‘Yes, I need help’.”
Higgins said financial problems and other stresses, as well as the drinking culture that was once common in the Defence Forces, result in many veterans turning to alcohol to cope.
Higgins is a recovering alcoholic. There were bars on all the naval ships during most of his career – something that is no longer the case.
He sought help in the late 1980s, while still in the Navy, and said he got support because of a particular doctor within the Defence Forces.
Higgins said he was the exception and not the rule as, for many years, people who had alcohol problems were quietly let go from the Defence Forces and not given any counselling or support.
“Some of my bosses kept telling me that I didn’t have a problem, that I just wanted to get out of going to sea, which wasn’t the case. I needed help. Once I did get my addiction under control, I did go back to see.”
Higgins said that in the past when some people told their colleagues they had an alcohol addiction, they were told to “lighten up and have a drink”.
“Thankfully it’s no longer the culture in the Defence Forces, but when some of us joined up or were serving, alcohol played a big part in the culture.
“I don’t think I’m giving up any secrets to say a lot of people were let go from the Defence Forces when they shouldn’t have been let go. The attitude was, ‘Well now he’s gone, the problem is gone’ – but that has changed now, the services are there and people are supported.
“Being an alcoholic, you have to decide yourself that you have a problem, no one can tell you, and it took a while for me to cop on to this. I eventually discovered what everyone else knew.
“Thankfully that doctor gave me the strength and the help that I needed, as did my wife and family.”
Homelessness
Marriage breakdown is fairly common among veterans, Higgins noted, as relationships were put under pressure from a person being away from their family for weeks or months at a time.
A number of veterans also experience homelessness at some point in their lives.
“Maybe not homelessness in the sense of sleeping on the streets, but they might be couch-surfing or maybe they’ve had to move in with their children or move into overcrowded accommodation which is unsuitable and they want to be independent,” Higgins explained.
ONE plans to open its latest hostel for veterans in Cobh later this year. A building that once a social welfare office is currently being refurbished.
Higgins said the building work will cost about €550,000. The Department of Defence and Defence Forces are providing financial assistance to complete the project.
However, more money needs to be raised to furnish the bedrooms. Five ensuite bedrooms will be in the hostel and it will cost about €3,000 to furnish each room. Higgins said local businesses have agreed to pay for some of the rooms already.
The centre in Cobh will also have a veteran support centre, which Higgins described as “a cross between a men’s shed and a women’s shed and citizens advice”.
“It will be a place where veterans can come in, meet old comrades, have a cup of coffee, have a chat. We will also have a welfare officer in place, who will deal with any issues that veterans need to have addressed. He is a counsellor and can point people in the right direction,” Higgins explained.
The idea of ONE’s hostels is to provide accommodation and other supports for veterans until they get back on their feet and can move into their own accommodation.
Higgins said the vast majority of veterans who live in the hostels for a period end up in their own accommodation.
“We have a 95% success rate of getting people who stay in hostels back into mainstream living. We give them the help they need, we build them up, and then they’re ready to go back into the mainstream again.”
Higgins said the majority of the veterans ONE helps are male but he and others are making a conscious effort to get more female veterans involved.
“We are attempting to redress the balance to attract more females into the organisation,” he said, adding that, much like the Defence Forces itself, some people view ONE as “an old boys’ club”.
“We’re trying to dispel that myth, and we’re working to involve female veterans and they are coming forward.” slowly.”
Minister for Veterans
Higgins believes there should be a Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, separate to the Defence Minister. He said veterans in Ireland aren’t treated as well as, or respected as much as, their counterparts in the UK.
“Across the water, they have all the support. Yes, they have been to wars but some of us have gone through the same thing and we’re just ignored.”
Higgins said ONE has helped veterans who served during the Troubles in Northern Ireland to get back on their feet.
“We have people here who served during the Troubles, but no-one ever said thanks. The soldiers were on ditches around the border, we were looking for guns and drugs.
“I think that needs to be addressed. People need to realise that the soldiers, the veterans, have served this country.
“They have gone out of their way to help, they’ve never said no – for the floods, the snow, even the rubbish collection. They could have said, ‘Well that’s not my job’, but they didn’t. Now with Covid they are stepping in again – soldiers, veterans and reserves.
“They’re taken for granted. People think, ‘Oh they’re the Defence Forces, they’ll be there, they’ll do what they’re told. I think that’s something we need to address.”
ONE costs close to €1 million a year to run, and the charity receives some funding from the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence.
However, the organisation still needs to fundraise to make up the difference. One of its biggest fundraisers is the annual Fuschia Collection. However, on-street sales of the flowers have not been able to take place for the last two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Everyone knows what the poppy is,”, Higgins said, referring to the flower worn to commemorate British soldier who have died. “We’re trying to promote what the fuschia is,” he added.
‘Valued public service’
When asked about the support services available to veterans, a spokesperson for the Defence Forces said: “Óglaigh na hÉireann provide a range of support services to serving members and their families through our Personnel Support Service.
“Óglaigh na hÉireann also provides routine guidance to its members to assist with a transition from military life to civilian life. This guidance centers around education in areas such as mental and physical health, personal finances, pensions, tax and entry to the jobs market.”
The spokesperson noted that the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund is “a registered charity operated from within the Defence Forces which provides assistance to personnel who are experiencing difficult times”.
ONE receives support from this particular fund.
The spokesperson added that the Personnel Support Service “can provide limited support directly to veterans, mainly through the provision of information, guidance and signposting to services within the community”.
“There are also three main veteran’s organisations within the state, ONE, IUNVA and ARCO, each providing supports to veterans in different ways. These organisations are not part of the Defence Forces but maintain close links.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence told The Journal that the department “recognises the valued public service that was given to the State by retired members of the Defence Forces”.
They said the department also “recognises the valuable work that ONE undertakes for veterans and will continue to work closely with all Veterans Associations in support of their work”.
“The Minister for Defence and Department officials hold regular meetings with three Veterans’ Associations, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) and the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO). The Veterans’ Associations raise issues of concern to their members at these meetings,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of the supports currently offered to veterans, the Department has Service Level Agreements in place with ONE and IUNVA which set out the services the Department provides to these Associations. Under the terms of these SLAs, the Department provides financial support by way of annual subventions to ONE and IUNVA to support their work and the range of services they offer to ex-service personnel.”
The spokesperson said the department and the Defence Forces “have worked with ONE to bring to fruition their plans for a network of 15 Veteran Support Centres (VSCs) around the country and, where possible, have permitted the use of premises in functioning barracks to accommodate the VSC”.
“In addition, there is a programme for government commitment to further support the rollout of additional centres.”
The spokesperson added that the department has also secured total funding of €300,000 awarded under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020 “to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific projects”, in addition to the annual grants these organisations already receive.
More information about ONE can be read here.
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So they have all agreed on how much extra taxation is needed to save the world.
@Derek Anderson: nope.
For an example. Moving to an electric family car costs about €45k – €60k which most of us don’t have to spend on a car. How is the regular working person or family to go green when it’s financially crippling.
@TheKloppKop: the year 2180 will do
@TheKloppKop: that’s just your transportation! Retrofit your house to the new standard and add another €100,000 on minimum
How come our planet is after becoming so fragile all of a sudden. Another plan to restrict people’s movement.
@John brett: where are you getting this all of a Sudden, they have been saying this decades.
@Sue Kelly: Yes they have been saying this for decades. That’s why people are complacent. They are doing nowhere near enough to address the problem they are talking about. People think we have plentry of time. And let’s face it. Very few are prepared to make the sacrifices that are realistically needed to make the difference; you and me included.
@John brett: planet has always been fragile, a combination of 6 Celsius warming and/or over hunting killed off the Giant Irish Elk, the mammoth, wolly rhinoceros, dire wolves, saber toothed tigers, North America Camels and horses, and many other megafauna, and also 2 subspecies of humans (Neanderthal and Devensovan).
We’ve been very lucky these past 10,000 years, global temperature have hardly varied by 1 degree Celsius, that said a little further warming was enough to turn the Sahara from a green oasis to a desert by 6000 years ago. That happened over several thousand years, not 100.
@Vonvonic: What sacrifices would that be Sue? I recycle as much as is humanly possible, I try not to turn on the heat unless it’s baltic, I cycle to work, and much and all as I’d love to buy an electric car, I couldn’t afford one. Been green comes at a great cost which the average person can’t afford, so what I outlined earlier is about all I can contribute.
@The Firestarter: You shouldn’t personalise what I’ve said. Greta is right. To solve this problem is going to take wholesale structural changes on how we live… all of us. I don’t see it happening to be honest… we’re way to find of our stuff for that.
@Vonvonic: fond
@Vonvonic: that’s baloney. I swear that gremlins head will do a 360 one of these days. I can’t afford to be green. Even the new refill deodorant is €25 or something. I can get 2 pairs of jeans for that.
@The Firestarter: Sure even if you got an electric car eventually you won’t even be able to charge the thing. Our energy policy for the future seems to revolve around wind…
Unless China and American come on board we are at nothing.
@marcusmckenna: absolutely. Well said
@Anna Carr: Their choices shouldn’t impact ours. We already owe them 100 years of carbon emissions, and their excessive emissions in the last 2 decades are one of the sole stimuli that prevented total global collapse post 2008.
Regardless, if just Europe went carbon neutral by 2030 it would still buy more time for the transition.
This needs to be done. And any contribution will help stave off complete catastrophe and save some extra fraction of our civilisation
If you think I’m being dramatic: it’s accepted that 1.5°+ of heating will doom vulnerable nations. This puts us on course for 2.7°. That will doom the southern stretches of the north and have catastrophic impacts on the productivity of farmlands.
It’s the end of our civilisation.
Anything that can delay that will help.
@Alan Dunne: We already owe them 100 years of carbon emissions…lol
Unlike Europe China has been using coal for 6,000 years
China & India had an iron industry in 1300BC, they were mass producing iron and later steel products 1,000 years before Europe, the iron & later steel industry became a state monopoly in China in 200BC.
Yep, so if we just get people to pay more taxes the Climate God will be Appeased and will not destroy us.
How wonderful now could they take Eamonn Ryan and send him to MARS
Ireland is but a dot in the Atlantic Ocean so no matter what we do will make no difference but Irish people will pay the price in taxes
@Colette Mooney: you’re correct of course that carbon taxes have very little to do with limiting the climate catastrophe but if Ireland were to decide to act effectively, equitably, and immediately, even alone, it’s not something we should hesitate to do.
Developing energy independence, sustainable farming, these are things that will stand us in very good stead to face whats coming.
And though our actions alone won’t stop it, they will delay it, even marginally, and even a delay can help us avert civilisational catastrophe if everyone gets on board eventually.
Followed it a lot this week to see what could be done and all I heard was some of the best fiction speeches you’ll ever hear
If you and me would stop buying tat and trashing the planet.. In other words the root cause of the problem it seems to me, is insatiable consumerism. This Christmas is a good place to start.
@Charles Barker: well said
Forget about Ireland….have a look at the 16 lane Highways in LA full of large 4 x 4 ‘s with 5ltr engines
COP-OUT26, nothing of real substance agreed. India, USA, China and Russia are inserting loopholes which can effectively negate any commitments.
The biggest load of ballix
Any mention of the rainforests?
I feel sorry for the people that believe the aspirational political doublespeak and rhetoric that comes from politicians at these summits.
Politicians speaking about climate change or carbon emissions should have to wear and display corporate sponsorship, in the same way as motor racing drivers do.
It’s much more revealing to look at what the any past commitments have resulted in on these issues, rather than the can kicking soundbites which are meant to delfate and negate the legitimate arguments and campaigns, which challenge the financial interests of their corporate sponsors.
They operate on a simple formula, issue a meaningful soundbite to placate the masses, over a long enough timeframe so they think its being addressed, but they also dont expect to see results any time soon..
Anything there that won’t be completely useless and cost us a fortune?
@Anna Carr: Rumour has it Eamon Ryan returned with massive Euro signs in his eyes and a strange, twisted smile. Must have gone really well!
Ugh god you lot give over about tax and the cost of this. Do you want to live or not? Do you want a safe world for your kids? The economy is what we make it. Nature doesn’t care about it. Which do you think would win? Nature or the economy? Hint: one had been around a lot longer and has survived mass extinction before.
Órla is busy typing
Interestingly there’s no mention of Germany’s stance on this (who, you know, also happens to be EU’s powerhouse): https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/government-dispute-over-e-fuels-stops-germany-signing-cop26-car-pledge
Nor is there any mention of where the likes of Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, and BMW stand wrt the issue.
One wonders why.. Could it be that by creating the notion that everyone is (and must be) behind this, additional taxes and cost of living skyrocketing will be easier to swallow? Talking about selective reporting 101…
Why don’t just provide us all with electric cars if they are that concerned.
A lot of people are being left behind in the rush to be green.
Not that they will notice as smugness goes with the gig.
The idea that everybody can walk and cycle everywhere is a typical example.
The idea that everyone can afford to live a green lifestyle.
An awful lot of us can barely afford to live at present.
Of course we don’t matter and we won’t be asked or conducted with.
Real equality is one of the first casualties of these policies.
Rules are regulations don’t count anymore.
Just say your saving the planet and you get away with anything.
have your say