Cork soldier settles action over psychiatric impact of anti malarial drug

Father of three Anthony Cole who served for 33 years in the Defence Forces had claimed he has not felt ’normal’ since his five months tour of duty in Chad in 2009 and suffers headaches, nightmares, mood swings and irritability.

The case before Ms Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon was regarded as a test case and was at hearing for several days and expected to run for weeks.

The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Opening the case Gerry Healy SC said Anthony Cole, who was based mainly at Collins Barracks, Cork loved his life in the Army but got an adverse reaction to the medical treatment given by the Defence Forces to protect him from getting malaria while on a tour of duty in Chad, in equatorial Africa.

Counsel said the soldier suffered from very severe psychiatric symptoms and still suffers from "appalling symptoms".

Mr Cole (51) is no longer with the Defence Forces.

Anthony Cole, Duneoin, Carrigaline, Cork had sued the Minister for Defence and the Attorney General after he was given Lariam, also known as Mefloquine for two weeks before he travelled, while on his tour of duty and for a number of weeks on his return home from Chad.

He claimed when he arrived in Chad his sleep became very disturbed and for no obvious reason he became unhappy and exceedingly irritable. He claimed he felt so bad in himself that after three weeks he seriously considered returning home but persisted with the five month tour of duty.

He further claimed he has never felt normal since then and his life has been thrown in to complete disarray and he suffers nightmares, headaches, mood swings and depression.

He alleged there was an alleged failure to adequately warn members of the Defence Forces including himself of the side effects of the anti malarial drug Lariam and an alleged failure to warn him of the dangers and risks associated the medication.

The claims were denied and it was contended there was an alleged delay in bringing the proceedings.