Military authorities have probed fresh allegations of initiation rituals at an Angus military base, it has emerged.
Seven Royal Marines based at RM Condor in Arbroath are facing trial over a bizarre charge of committing sex acts and drinking each other’s urine at a local nightclub.
The men deny any wrongdoing but a marines source said the allegations alone are “enough to raise questions about 45 Commando” at a time when servicemen and women need to be “unimpeachable” following a high-profile trial last year, which heard newcomers were made to drink from a mess tin filled from a paddling pool containing urine and vomit.
Jordan Coia, Ben James, Michael Byrne, Ryan Fowler, Luke Bowen, Jacob Holt, and Craig Lynch are accused of one charge of public indecency in the smoking area of DeVito’s nightclub in Millgate on June 2 2017, comprising acts such as exposing their sex organs, urinating in public, drinking each other’s urine and their own, smacking bare buttocks, placing their sex organs in the mouth of others, and performing sex acts on each other.
It is understood the service will not convene a court martial if it is aware there is a civilian court case pending, but the allegations have been investigated.
A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: “Whilst legal proceedings continue, it would be inappropriate to comment further”.
The men appeared on an undertaking before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown, and trial was set for September 25.
Lynch, 42, Jacob Holt, 21, Bowen, 25, Fowler, 23, Byrne, 26, James, 22, and Coia, 22, whose addresses were given at Forfar Sheriff Court as c/o RM Condor, deny the single charge on summary complaint.
Not guilty pleas were entered by local solicitors Angela McLarty, Grant Bruce, Ian Flynn, Lynne Sturrock, and Michael Boyd.
