Officers in the Defence Forces have paid up to €67,000 each to buy their way out of their military careers early rather than continue to serve for the time they initially agreed, it has emerged.

The Irish Times has established 24 officers across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service who were sent to university as part of their training then opted to pay their way out early over the past 4½ years.

Many of them had gained specialist skills in university such as in computer forensics, cyber security and combating cybercrime.

Less than a fortnight ago the Government’s own National Cyber Security Strategy warned of significant risks to Ireland’s economy and international reputation because the State was vulnerable to cyber attacks.

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