Latest news with #IrenaDzisiewska
National Post
10-05-2025
- National Post
Canadian officer reprimanded, fined $3,000 for 'crude' comment about British general
A highly decorated Canadian officer and Afghan war veteran was fined $3,000 and given a severe reprimand for a derogatory comment he made about a British brigadier general. Article content Article content A Canadian military court martial held Thursday in Gatineau heard that Col. Rob Kearney was in his tent with two other officers on a military exercise when he referred to the female brigadier general as a 'f—ing c–t.' Article content Article content Brig. Gen. Irena Dzisiewska was not present when the comment was made during a NATO command post exercise in Romania in October 2023. But a British officer who was in the tent with Kearney filed a complaint with the Canadian military. Article content Article content Military Judge Col. Nancy Isenor said the comment was 'gender-based, crude and offensive' and brought disrepute to the Canadian Forces. Kearney, who has since retired from the Canadian military, was assistant chief of staff at the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Innsworth, United Kingdom at the time of the incident. Article content He submitted a guilty plea to one count of conduct prejudice to the good order and discipline. Article content Kearney, a reservist at the time of the incident, was originally charged with five counts. The allegation at the time was that Kearney had 'made derogatory and disloyal comments about Senior CAF and NATO members,' according to a Canadian Forces April 2024 news release. Article content Article content Isenor accepted the joint submission from the defence lawyer and prosecution that Kearney's punishment should be a $3,000 fine and a severe reprimand. No explanation was provided during the court martial about why the proceedings were for only one charge of conduct prejudice to the good order and discipline. Article content Article content The court heard that Kearney had a stellar career, having served in the Canadian Forces for 31 years. During that time he earned 15 military decorations, including two commendations from the Chief of the Defence Staff, one army commendation, and a U.S. Meritorious Service Medal. Article content Kearney, an Afghan war veteran, was in the regular force until May 2012. He left the military for the private sector and returned to the reserve force in August 2015. He had received a Canadian Meritorious Service Medal for his service in Afghanistan. Article content The court heard that Kearney was in charge of briefing two generals during the command post exercise in Romania. Dzisiewska, who was not an active member of the group being briefed, voiced criticism of Kearney and his team during the discussion. Kearney responded that if Dzisiewska had any concerns she should take those up with the major general who was in overall command.
CBC
08-05-2025
- CBC
Retired army colonel fined, reprimanded for insulting British senior officer
A retired, highly decorated Canadian soldier pleaded guilty, was fined and given a severe reprimand on Thursday over an insulting remark he made about a British senior officer while on a NATO exercise. Former colonel Rob Kearney, who fought in Afghanistan, made the remark about British Brig.-Gen. Irena Dzisiewska in his tent in the presence of two other officers. The incident took place during what's known as a command post exercise in Romania in October 2023. Kearney faced a military court martial and pleaded guilty to one count of conduct which is prejudice to good order and discipline. The military judge fined Kearney $3,000 and ordered a severe reprimand to the 60-year-old reservist who had originally faced a total of five charges. Kearney referred to the female brigadier general as a "f---ing c---t." Dzisiewska was not in the tent at the time, but another British officer was and filed a complaint with the Canadian military. The military court was told on Thursday that Dzisiewska criticized Kearney and his team, which had the responsibility of briefing two other allied generals. During a separate, second briefing, Dzisiewska renewed her complaints. It was afterward, in his tent, that Kearney made the remark. After the incident, Kearney apologized and took responsibility for his remark. He also co-operated with Canadian military police who investigated the incident. Kearney had served in the regular force of the Canadian Army for over 30 years. Over the span of his career, he received 15 military decorations, including both a Canadian and a U.S. Meritorious Service Medal for his time in Afghanistan. He retired in 2012 but returned to the reserves a few years later where he held a number of senior advisory positions at National Defence Headquarters before becoming assistant chief of staff at the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Innsworth, United Kingdom.
