Michael Martin, PDFORRA Founder, publishes ‘Breaking Ranks’

Michael Martin, PDFORRA Founder, publishes ‘Breaking Ranks’ – an examination of civil-military relations in Ireland from the foundation of the State up to 1990 – including the founding of PDFORRA

‘Breaking Ranks’ is a look at what happened in Ireland between1988-1990 in the context of civil-military relations and concerns itself with a period up to the signing of Defence Force Regulation S6*. The account is presented as much for an international audience as a home one and contains some very important conclusions on the significance of PDFORRAs achievements in gaining statutory recognition in a western democracy. It tracks civil military relations in Ireland from 1913 to the present day.

Author Michal Martin said today, “Of significant interest to the general Irish audience will be the evolution and impact of the women’s National Army Spouses Association campaign and the emergence of the notion of representation among Irish soldiers themselves. There are fascinating insights into the arguments made, philosophical and otherwise, by the military authorities in presenting their case to government on the wisdom or otherwise of having a representative body for members of the Permanent Defence Force”.

Martin continued, “Defence and political analysts will be interested in the sharp differences that emerged between the Minister and the then Chief of Staff at the time, with an accusation that the Minister may have been acting illegally.