The UN has opened an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse by an Irish peacekeeper at an army checkpoint.

Retired soldier Anthony O’Brien raised the matter with the Vienna-based UN investigation team who said last night they were looking into the matter.

Mr O’Brien, a former army sergeant from Ballyfermot in Dublin, met the division chief by video link last week.

He raised allegations including child sexual abuse at the Kafra-Yatar checkpoint in Lebanon by an Irish peacekeeper serving with UNIFIL who showed them pornography.

Mr O’Brien also detailed reports of a soldier’s alleged rape during his first overseas service and other female soldiers who were raped after drinking their drink.

A UN spokesperson told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “We can confirm that the Office of Internal Oversight Services [OIOS] has been seized of the matter for appropriate follow-up. The UN will investigate for appropriate action any reports of sexual misconduct brought to its attention involving its personnel.

The utter horror of alleged rape and pedophilia in the Defense Force was first spoken of by Mr O’Brien more than a year ago.

He sent reports of military sex abuse on military property to Defense Minister Simon Coveney.

The accounts, some of which allege child abuse at Curragh military camp in Kildare, were sent by the Ministry of Defense to the gardai.

Two weeks ago Sinn Fein TD Patricia Ryan read a number of allegations in the Dail file.

She said: “There are many sad and sick stories, including that of a female soldier who was raped on her first mission overseas. Her rapist was fined three days’ wages.

“The female soldier was branded a troublemaker and a bitch.

“She attempted suicide several times and became an alcoholic.” Deputy Ryan also told the Dail that two female soldiers whose drinks were spiked by four soldiers were raped and then “put back to bed” while on duty in Lebanon.

Last week, an active member of the Defense Forces told RTE that those who raised concerns about alleged sexual assaults at a barbecue at McKee Barracks in 2020 were being silenced.

The only people to face charges following the events were a group of soldiers who discussed the allegations in a closed WhatsApp group.

A soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “To me, it stinks of attempts to silence people who talk about it.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense said it had been in contact with the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight and was informed that the OIOS “will not be investigating the reported allegations”.