Former Canadian soldier and Afghan war veteran fined, reprimanded for insulting senior female British officer

A highly decorated former Canadian Army officer, who served in Afghanistan, has been fined $3,000 and severely reprimanded for uttering an highly insulting and derogatory remark directed towards a female British officer senior in rank to him. Colonel Rob Kearney (retd) of the Canadian Army pleaded guilty during his court martial for calling Brigadier Irena Dzisiewska a “f*****g c**t”.The 60-year-old Canadian officer pleaded guilty to the charge of conduct not in good order and discipline, and was fined $3,000.The military court also ordered a severe reprimand to him. According to the Canadian Depart of National Defence press release of April 29, 2024, Col Kearney faced “Five (5) x counts of Conduct Prejudice to the Good Order and Discipline pursuant to section 129 of the National Defence Act.”

“The first offence allegedly occurred in December of 2021 and four subsequent offences ranged from January 2023 to November 2023. The offences are alleged to have taken place in the United Kingdom and in Romania,” the release added.

He made the remark while he was serving during a NATO exercise in his tent in the presence of two other officers, one of whom filed a formal complaint against him. The two officers who were present, saw and heard Col. Kearney making the insulting remark directed towards Brigadier Dzisiewska and testified during the court martial.

While the British officer, a Wing Commander, filed the complaint and testified that Col Kearney called Brig Dzisiewska “f*****g c**t”, the second officer from the United States, Lieutenant Colonel, stated he heard the Canadian officer calling the senior British officer a “c**t”.

Brig Dzisiewska was not in the tent when Kearney shouted the abuses. All the four officers were taking part in a NATO command post exercise in Romania in October 2023 when the incident took place.He made the remarks after Brig Dzisiewska criticized Kearney and his team following the briefing two other allied generals. The British officer complained against Col Kearney again during a second briefing.Col. Kearney, who served over 30 years in the Canadian Army and retired in 2012 but returned as a reservist, had apologised for his remarks. He also cooperated with Canadian military police during the investigation.

The officer was awarded 15 military decorations during his service with the Canadian Army. These included a Canadian as well as a US Meritorious Service Medal for serving in Afghanistan.