Vol. 516 No. 6
134 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Defence if the report into an incident at Kilworth Range in December 1997 in which a member of the Defence Forces was injured following an accident with a 60 mm mortar is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8782/00]
A court of inquiry was initiated immediately following the accident which occurred at Kilworth firing range on 9 December 1997 in which five Defence Forces personnel were injured, one seriously. The inquiry encompassed the findings of a Military Police investigation and a technical board of inquiry. Weapons handling training on the 60 mm mortar continued but live firing for training purposes ceased pending completion of the aforementioned investigations. The report submitted to higher military authority gave rise to additional queries which could only be addressed by the reconvening of the court of inquiry and this was done. The report of the reconvened court of inquiry was submitted to me on 10 August last. I am assured by the military authorities that all drills and procedures as well as all other aspects of firing exercises are kept constantly under review.
