David Stapleton (Lieutenant-General)

Lieutenant General David "Dave" Stapleton DSM, was an Irish army general officer who served as Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces and previously as Force Commander of UNDOF in the Golan Heights.

Early life

Stapleton was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland on 26 September 1937, where he attended CBS High [School Clonmel|the local Christian Brothers school].

He joined the Irish Defence Forces Cadet School in 1955 and was commissioned into the Transport [Corps (Ireland)|Supply and Transport Corps]. During a forty five year long career he held the senior positions of Commander 6th Infantry Brigade, Director of the Transport Corps, Quartermaster General, Force Commander UNDOF and Chief of Staff.

He was married to Maureen and had four children. Stapleton died at his home in Newbridge on 13 June 2016.