Latest news with #RobKearney
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.
Toronto Sun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Canadian officer fined $3,000 for derogatory comment about British general
Rob Kearney, a retired colonel, pleaded guilty to making the comment during a NATO command post exercise in 2023. A decorated Canadian officer was fined $3,000 for a derogatory comment he made about a British general. Photo by Ashley Fraser / POSTMEDIA 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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.' 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. Kearney, 60, later apologized, took responsibility for his comments, and co-operated with Canadian military police who were called in to investigate the incident. 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. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He submitted a guilty plea to one count of conduct prejudice to the good order and discipline. 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. 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. 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. 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. During another similar briefing for senior officers, Dzisiewska continued her criticism of Kearney and his team. Kearney later returned to his tent that he shared with members of his team. The court heard that it was 'after a long difficult day during a rant' that he made his comment about Dzisiewska. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A U.S. lieutenant colonel who was present in the tent told investigators that Kearney called Dzisiewska a 'c–t' while a British wing commander told officials that the term used was 'f—ing c—t.' Both took offence to the terminology. The military prosecutor noted the comment was made during the course of Kearney's duties and brought discredit upon the Canadian military. Kearney's reservist contract was not renewed and he was posted back to Canada from Europe. The court heard that he faced a significant financial penalty because of that. The court also heard that Kearney experienced embarrassing publicity because of media coverage which followed the release of the Canadian Forces news release about the incident in April 2024. Retired Col. Brett Boudreau, who attended the proceedings Thursday, noted that the Canadian military had various ways and means, besides the court martial route, to deal with the Kearney incident. 'This was an egregious use of military police and military justice resources to deal with a matter that could easily and sufficiently been dealt with at the time by CAF leaders through administrative disciplinary means,' Boudreau said. David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: Read More
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.
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Simon Zebo adds insult to injury by brutally trolling Leinster and Rob Kearney after shock loss to Northampton Saints
SIMON ZEBO got one last dig in following Leinster's shock defeat to the Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-finals. The former star had backed the English club to win by five prior to kick-off at the Aviva Stadium. 3 Leinster suffered a shock loss to Northampton on Saturday 3 Simon Zebo poked fun at the province 3 In doing so, he trolled former Ireland teammate Rob Kearney So He did so by sharing a video of himself reacting to the result to his Zebo followed this with another video of him reacting to former international teammate Rob Kearney's analysis on Premier Sports. He accompanied this with a cutaway to himself doing a mock crying face. Read More on Champions Cup Defeat on Saturday represented another episode of pain in the Investec Leo Cullen's men. Among the various talking points after the game was Cullen's decision not to start Both were introduced as substitutes but it was too little, too late, with Cullen, however, insisted Most read in Rugby Union Cullen said:' I will look back on lots of different things, over the course of the next few weeks. 'And, yes, when you don't win a game, particularly in a semi-final, everyone is going to second-guess everything. 'Dumbest game ever' - Former England star, 33, takes up violent new sport slammed by experts 'Listen, Jordie brought huge impact, and that is what we wanted from him, similar with Jack Conan, as well, and a lot of other players that were on the bench. 'You look at us at the end of the game - we looked like a strong team, attacking the game. There's probably bits before where we weren't quite accurate enough. But I don't have regrets about that plan, specifically.' Nor did he take issue with the decision to twice go for a try, rather than kick for goal and force extra-time, the second made in the knowledge that Northampton would be down a man for at least part of it. Cullen said: 'I absolutely back it, yeah. 'It's important, the players have a feel on the field, and they're all-in there. They backed their bravery to go and win the game. It doesn't come off, but everyone is a genius in hindsight. 'In the moment, these guys fancied it, and I'd fancy them 100 percent.' And He said: 'The first thing is Northampton were excellent I thought. We sat here on Friday talking about how strong Northampton are in terms of some of their attacking threats and what they are capable of doing. 'I think we saw that in lots of different parts of the game. We were maybe inaccurate in stages in the first half. I thought Northampton were very good in terms of some of their counterattack and they hit us on the counter a couple of times with some sucker-punch tries 'Tommy Freeman, I thought he was excellent in terms of his speed, the finish, and scores his hat-trick in the first half. 'Not many people were giving Northampton a chance coming into the game. Thay come away with a famous victory and unfortunately, it's at our expense. 'Some of the things they executed, how clinical they were, and even they came up with a way, to hold us out at the end, I'm not sure how they managed to do it but they managed to do it. 'It's a pretty horrific feeling for the group right now.'
BBC News
15-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Welsh rugby reaches record low as England run riot
Welsh rugby has had some troubling times in the past 18 months. Allowing England to run riot in their Cardiff home will rank as the lowest tries and a 68-14 defeat. It beggars belief. As England kept alive their Six Nations hopes at the Principality Stadium and you heard 'Swing Low Sweet Chariots' ringing around, Welsh rugby was left to reflect on the horrific state it finds itself was a record defeat for Wales in Cardiff, the most points they have conceded at the Principality Stadium, their heaviest Six Nations defeat and a record tournament loss and most points conceded against England. Those were just the headlines and not the full once proud nation are used to competing for Six Nations title and Grand Slams on the final weekend of the tournament which has become known as 'Super Saturday'.In Cardiff on this occasion, they have become the first Wales side to win successive Wooden Spoons by finishing bottom of the table again. Unwanted history boys Wales have become the unwanted history boys with a 17th successive defeat, the most for a tier one nation in the professional era and equalling Scotland's losing streak between 1951 and Wales should still be considered a tier one nation as they have slipped below Georgia in the world rankings to 12th will be debated with former Ireland full-back Rob Kearney having already broached the has been 525 days since their previous Test victory when they beat Georgia at the World Cup in October 2023 in has been 588 days since the last home win when Wales defeated England in August 2023 with nine successive has been 1,127 days since Wales won a Six Nations game at the Principality Stadium when Scotland were beaten in February 2022. Nine defeats have was the first time Wales have lost every game in two successive tournaments and picked up the Wooden Spoon, with 11 successive Six Nations losses to their name. From bad to worse After an opening 43-0 loss to France and 22-15 defeat in Italy, Warren Gatland left his head coach role after 14 Test coach Matt Sherratt was brought in for three games in an interim appointment and provided a feel-good factor with an improved performance in the 27-18 loss to Ireland. The optimism was over the top because of the misery the Welsh game during the past 18 months. A couple of Under-20s wins against England and Ireland also clouded the judgement of many because Welsh supporters have been starved of any were outclassed in Scotland before a late revival at Murrayfield with the visitors eventually losing Italy' 22-17 defeat against Ireland, Wales knew they need two match points to avoid a second successive Wooden Spoon even though they had not won a game in the followed was a demolition job of the men in red by the white shirts as they overpowered and outmuscled their inferior had the demoralising sight of home fans leaving early as the English supporters at one point former England scrum-half Danny Care, commentating for BBC One, admitted he felt "uncomfortable" about what he was witnessing. Time for action Who is now going to fix the mess Welsh rugby finds itself in? Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) bosses keep saying there is silver bullet with two Tests in Japan this summer to follow. The WRU has no director of rugby, no permanent head coach and no detailed strategy on how they can at least be competitive in world rugby will appoint the director of rugby this month and are due to unveil the details of their new strategy they launched in June 2024.A head coach to take Wales through until the 2027 World Cup in Australia will follow with Australian Michael Cheika and South African Franco Smith mentioned as Sherratt returns to his day job at WRU are supposed to be the guardians of the game in Wales and they have failed so many levels in recent commitment of the players can not be questioned but the lack of quality compared to other leading nations is is decided, they should never forget the events of 15 March, 2025. A 96-13 loss against South Africa in 1998 will still top the charts of Wales' darkest days but this day will challenge for the worst of the WRU and others have allowed this to happen. They need now to somehow fix it. What they said about Wales Former Wales hooker Ken Owens: "It is a dark day and tough to watch. I can't question the effort of the players as they are trying their heart out."We can't match teams physically to give the likes of Jarrod Evans and Ben Thomas an opportunity to test defences."The best teams that are physical can absorb us. That is the sad part of where we are at in Welsh rugby at the moment."Former Wales captain Sam Warburton: "If you win the power game so convincingly there's nothing the other team can is international rugby, it's a brutal and physical sport and power wins and England completely obliterated were just physically far superior. There was nothing Wales could do and that was the hardest watch for me, because it just showed the gulf in on ITV, former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar: "Firstly it was a really deflating day in Cardiff for any Welsh fan."There was a lot of hope going into the game, but ultimately they were overpowered and that's the way the game is at the minute."Looking further ahead, they've got a big tour to Japan this summer which becomes crucial for World Cup seeding."The powers that be in the WRU now, if you're not going to make tough decisions when you've lost 17 on the spin, then you probably never will."Something drastic and big changes are going to have to happen in Welsh rugby, that's stating the obvious."
