Ireland losing soldiers to better paid jobs amid fears terrorists see us as 'easy target'

A Defence Forces brain drain could see more terrorists slip through the net, a whistleblower has warned.

Private sector security firms are beefing up their numbers by head-hunting Irish soldiers.

And troops are jumping ship in their droves because the pay here is atrocious.

A camp in the Middle East has been dubbed “Little Baldonnel” [Air Corps HQ in Dublin] because so many Irish pilots and crewmen have been poached.

The top notch officers who have the skills needed to build a strong force to protect Ireland from the threat of Islamic terrorism are packing in the gig to take better paid jobs.

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A serving member of the Defence Forces told the Irish Mirror last night: “There are firms actively poaching guys at the minute for security work.

“I have been approached and offered a lot more money.

“You could potentially earn 50% more. They are mad to get Irish soldiers in.”

With the number of troops in freefall, soldiers fear terrorists see Ireland as a soft target.

“The Army is basically having your guard dogs out guarding your garden, it’s to keep people out of your house.

“It mightn’t bite anyone, but they see you have one there and they won’t cross the fence.”

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But numbers are in freefall as cash rich security contractors eye up Irish talent for jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The source said: “The likes of the Americans in Iraq couldn’t get enough bodies out to do the mundane tasks like guarding power line workers.”

But this type of work can be more dangerous.

The source added: “With an Army you would get on the radio and call in air support or armoured support.

“With some of these private companies you just have a couple of jeeps and that was it."

Recruiters are headhunting the highly-trained Irish troops for top gigs in the Middle East.

The source said: “The aircraft mechanics are being poached to Oman, because we were the first country to buy the AW131 helicopter.

“Ireland bought them when nobody was going to touch them, then all the countries like Oman and Saudi bought them and EC135 and then who had all the expertise fixing them? The Irish.”

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