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Intro:
During July 2001
while researching another project in the Irish military archives, a query
was made in order to locate any documents relating to the
26 Irish Shot at Dawn during WW1 that might
be extant in their records. Although there was no information available on
the Shot at Dawn, a file containing a document with a list of Irish defence
forces personnel recorded as dismissed for desertion post WW2 compiled by
the de Valera Government was discovered, and which one had never seen
before. This document included a reference to the Irish army number, name,
last recorded address, date of birth, declared occupation prior to
enlistment in the defence forces, and the date of dismissal from the defence
forces of nearly 5000 alleged deserters. When the issue of pardons for Irish
born British soldiers
Shot at Dawn during WW1 was raised, it was mentioned
that something should also be done to obtain redress for the men recorded in
the blacklist. At the time, one had been under the impression that all
former Irish defence forces personnel blacklisted by the
de Valera
Government
on the 08th of August 1945 pursuant to
Emergency Powers (No. 362) Order, 1945 had
been tried before an Irish military tribunal and as such the matter had been
settled. However, it was due to the incisive article by Kevin Myers, Irish
Independent 24 May 2011,
Irish-Independent-24_May_2011.pdf that one
finally understood the full background, thereby prompting concerns that the
political process used by the de Valera Government to dismiss personnel post
WW2 had subverted the jurisdiction of the military courts and was legally
flawed. Further research revealed a notice published in the Irish Press 09th
August 1945 which also confirmed there was no court-martial process involved
in their dismissal: See Army Deserters Dismissal Order: Irish Press 09th
August 1945
Dismissal.Order-IrishPress.09.August.1945.pdf.
On the 06th June 2011, the Irish Soldiers
Pardons Campaign (WW2) was initiated to try and obtain some form of redress
from the Irish government for the survivors and their families.
Please NOTE: As it is likely some of the context for the desertion
issue will be drawn by authors etc from "Spitting on a Soldier’s Grave" a
book by Robert Widders (Pub Matador, 1 Nov 2010), all concerned should be
aware that this books subtitle ‘Court Martialed After Death”
has contributed to a misunderstanding as to the POLITICAL PROCESS
that was introduced by the de Valera Government to dismiss blacklisted
personnel in 1945. For the record: There was no court-martial,
military tribunal et al involved in adjudicating on military personnel
recorded in the blacklist. Indeed, "THE ABSENCE OF A MILITARY TRIBUNAL WHICH
HAS SOLE JURISDICTION IN ADJUDICATING ON SERVICE PERSONNEL ACCUSED OF THE
MILITARY OFFENCE OF DESERTION WAS THE
REASON FOR THE
INITIATION OF THE IRISH SOLDIERS PARDONS CAMPAIGN (WW2) ON THE O6TH JUNE
2011". To reiterate, Irish Defence Forces Personnel listed in the blacklist
were never “Court Martialed After Death” as asserted by this author.
In consequence, the index page of the
Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign WW2 has
been re-published to include a clarification re the affect of the passing of
the Amnesty and Immunity Bill by Dail and Seanad Eireann, and its signing
into Irish Law on the 14 May 2013 by the President of Ireland along with
other background information:
Note 1: With regard to
persons subject to Irish military law, an Irish military court has sole
jurisdiction to adjudicate on members of the Irish defence forces accused of
the military offence of desertion, and upon conviction, a
court-martial/military tribunal has sole jurisdiction to award punishments
upon accused person's, who are subject to Irish military law, and who have
been found guilty by a court-martial/military tribunal of a breach of Irish
military law. The military offence of desertion as reflected in
Section 42 (1) of the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions Act), 1923
and successor Acts clearly states inter-alia
that..."PERSONS SUBJECT TO MILITARY LAW.... SHALL, ON CONVICTION BY
COURT-MARTIAL....BE LIABLE TO SUFFER"...which affirms the legal
position that an Irish military court is the final arbiter of the guilt or
innocence of persons subject to Irish military law, and political cabals,
aspiring historians, commentators et al, do not have jurisdiction to award
punishments or make determinations of fact upon persons who are subject to
Irish military law.
CONSEQUENTLY,
AN IRISH MILITARY COURT IS THE
FINAL DECIDER AS TO WHETHER A MEMBER OF THE DEFENCE FORCES IS A DESERTER OR
NOT. UNTIL THAT DETERMINATION IS REACHED BY A MILITARY COURT A DEFENDANT IS ABSENT
WITHOUT LEAVE (AWOL);
Note 2:
It beggars belief that some Irish authors who purport to be writers of
record continue to rewrite the effects of the legislation introduced by
Minister for Defence Alan Shatter TD in 2012 to resolve the desertion issue
in the Irish Defence Forces, following WW2, and requires comment:
●
"Heroes or Traitors the
Irish Deserters of WW II" a recently published book (2021), authored by
serving Irish Defence Forces Officer Cian Harte" replicates the same old
canard written by some Irish connections who have never fully understood, or
at the very least continue to misrepresent the effects of the Amnesty and
Immunity legislation introduced by former Minister for Defence Alan Shatter
TD in 2012. While Irish connections are entitled to their opinion, they are
not entitled to their own facts;
●
To Restate: The
Amnesty and Immunity Act
initiated by Minister for Defence Mr Alan Shatter
TD, on behalf of the Irish government in 2012;
●
was supported UNANIMOUSLY by Dail Eireann
(The Irish Parliament) in 2013;
●
signed into Irish law on the 14 May 2013
by the President of Ireland;
●
is
an unprecedented, and historically significant piece of legislation,
which EXONERATES members of the Irish Defence Forces
who went AWOL (absent without leave) and joined UK or allied forces
during world war two, and at the same time provides immunity from
prosecution for others;
●
Accompanied by an apology, this
legislation comprehensively and unambiguously obliterates the imputation
of guilt imposed by the post war Irish government on former blacklisted
Irish Defence Forces personnel;
●
For the information of all concerned, the Government decided NOT to go
down a Pardon legislation route, as such a Pardon
instrument/legislation, if introduced, would have encroached on the
remit of the President of Ireland as defined pursuant to the
Constitution;
●
The issue of pardons
has also been raised on many other occasions including by Lara Marlowe
in her Irish Woman’s Diary Irish Times 04 June 2019 when she referred to
a new book “The Irish at D-Day” by retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the
Defence forces Dan Harvey. The writer recorded “In 2012 then Minister
Alan Shatter pardoned 4983 soldiers who deserted the Irish Defence
Forces “. That is untrue.
The
Amnesty and Immunity Act/legislation is again being misrepresented,
perhaps to suit another narrative.
A rebuttal letter
was subsequently published in the
Irish Times, letters page, dated 06th June 2019 entitled “D-Day and
Ireland”;
●
For the information
of Irish Historians/Writers of record
etc, the
Amnesty and Immunity Act
is now embedded in IRISH LAW and settles the
issue, IN PERPETUITY;
●
“HAVE WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHO THE REAL TRAITORS WERE”:
an article by Gerry Gregg, Herald, Dublin, 10 May
2013, provides additional background;
Sean O’Riordan in his incisive article “Number of personnel going AWOL
in Defence Forces to hit 10-year high" Irish Examiner”
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40998950.html
published 05 November 2022,
concludes;
“During this period, the Defence Forces had about 42,000 personnel.
Nearly 5,000 deserted to fight with the Allies against the Axis powers
(Germany, Italy and Japan). They were officially pardoned in 2012 by
then defence minister Alan Shatter”.
For the sake of clarity, the
Defence Forces
(Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act (No 12) 2013 is an Amnesty and
not a Pardon. A Pardon is the forgiveness of an offence, whereas the
construct and effect of this amnesty and immunity legislation is to
exculpate all concerned from allegations of desertion thereby removing the
stigma of dishonour associated with being blacklisted. To reiterate, the introduction of the Defence
Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act (No 12) 2013 initiated by
then Minister for Defence Mr Allan Shatter TD on behalf of the Irish
Government, comprehensively and unambiguously obliterated the imputation of
guilt imposed by the introduction of Emergency Powers Order 362 on the 8th
of August 1945. The writer is correct to say “A person is not deemed a
deserter by the Irish military unless they make that admission themselves or
are convicted of it by court martial”. Following WW2, there was no
court-martial or military tribunal involved in adjudicating on Irish
military personnel convicted of desertion by the Irish Government and
subsequently published in a confidential blacklist. Indeed, the absence of a
military tribunal which has sole jurisdiction in adjudicating on Irish
service personnel accused of the military offence of desertion was the
reason for the initiation of the Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign (WW2) on
the 06th June 2011.
Previous commentators in analysing the desertion rate
to overall strength for the Irish defence forces during the period 1939 to
1945, assert a figure of 10% desertion in the Irish Defence Forces. The
Blacklist which lists those dismissed for desertion is a combination of
several categories of enlisted defence force personnel, e.g. regulars,
reservists and those who had signed up as volunteers for the duration of the
Emergency. This record includes the names of 756 regular army personnel who
had left the Colours, some 1313 personnel of the 1st and 2nd line reserves,
the remainder were volunteers which includes members of the construction
corps. The figure of 42,000 personnel serving in the Irish Army being quoted
by Sean O'Riordan relates to regulars + reservists and does not include
those who volunteered for the Local Defence Force which was approx 98,000,
who were later absorbed into the Defence Forces. A calculation of the total
strength of the Irish Defence Forces e.g. 40,000 (which is a combination of
regular army + reservists) + the estimated 98,000 personnel serving in the
Local Defence Forces = 138,000. However, a forensic comparative study of
extant documentation would prove useful in establishing the facts.
While it is obvious the debate surrounding
the desertion issue will continue Ad infinitum, nevertheless in the
interests of establishing some semblance of historical accuracy more
research should be considered and the subject matter does require more
objective scrutiny.
Thursday 16th February 2023:
In his excellent contribution (“Ireland’s
defence in second World War, Army’s capability was formidable” Irish
Times, February 16th 2023), Donal O’Carroll (Colonel Rtd) asserts
“During the war, the Army had two divisions, two independent
brigades and three command (ie garrison) battalions – 40,000 in all, and
probably 100,000 in the Local Defence Force”.
The writer is spot on with his figures a conclusion we had reached some
years ago during the Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign (WW2). However, during
the Campaign some Irish sources sought to rewrite the effects of any
potential outcome to the desertion issue envisaged by Minister for Defence
Alan Shatter TD by engaging in misinformation re the desertion rate to
support their own agenda. They asserted the desertion rate to overall
strength for the Irish defence forces during the period 1939 to 1945 was
10% to support their own narrative, and
THEY WERE WRONG.
The Blacklist which lists those dismissed for desertion in August 1945, is
a combination of several categories of enlisted defence force personnel,
e.g. regulars, reservists and those who had signed up as volunteers for
the duration of the Emergency. In the years since the
resolution introduced by Minister for Defence Allan Shatter in 2012
the letter in the Irish Times 16th February 2023, by Donal O’Carroll (Colonel
Rtd), is the first time that I am aware, of anyone asserting the
correct figures for those who had served in the Defence Forces during the
emergency, and I thank the Colonel for his EXPERT contribution.
Peter Mulvany BCL, HDip Arts Admin,
Coordinator
Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign
(WW2)
https://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.ie
Overview:
During world war two approximately 5000
service personnel from the Irish defence forces who (allegedly) deserted,
including those who had joined the allied war effort to fight fascism, were
subsequently dismissed from the defence forces on the 8th of August 1945, en
masse, unheard, and in absentia by
Irish government decree.
It is a basic tenet of
Irish constitutional law that citizens have a right to defend themselves,
and defendants subject to military law, even when on active service, have
the same rights to adduce a defence in any proceedings. The Emergency Powers
Order introduced by the post war Irish government to deal with alleged
deserters was a vindictive act of injustice, arbitrary in application, and
by disregarding their fundamental rights as citizens denied Irish defence
force personnel the right to defend themselves before an Irish military
tribunal. Irish defence force personnel accused of desertion were treated
differently depending on whether they stayed in Ireland or went abroad to
fight with the allies. The exclusion of officers from the Order’s terms of
reference should have raised concerns as to class bias. By August 1945, the
Irish government had constructed a unique political instrument to deal with
the military offence of desertion in such a way that the rights of
individuals were abrogated for the sake of political expediency. Oscar
Traynor TD, then Minister for Defence, opined during passage of the Order
through Dail Eireann (Irish Parliament), that these men, both survivors and
those who had lost their lives, were worthy of very little consideration,
and yet some years later when SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny wanted to
come to Ireland the same Oscar Traynor TD had no difficulty in permitting
this committed Nazi to legally enter Ireland. Former
SS-Obersturmbannführer
Otto Skorzeny was the coordinator of ODESSA, the Organization of Former SS
Members (‘Organization Der Ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen’), in Spain, and it was
ODESSA, and their sympathisers who managed to route Dr Josef Mengele to
South America and away from the Nazi Hunters, thus evading justice for his
war crimes. In contrast, Irish defence force personnel some of whom rest in
eternal silence on the various battlefields throughout the world were still
regarded with dishonour by the Irish government. Post 1945, one of the most
repugnant instruments of printed injustice directed at service personnel,
Emergency Powers (No. 362) Order 1945,
was placed on the Irish statute book which resulted in the compilation of a
list of those who had (allegedly) deserted the Irish defence force during
the Emergency which included men who had lost their lives fighting against
the Nazis and the Japanese during world war two. The blacklist was then
distributed on a confidential basis by the Irish government to all state
authorities barring their employment and various entitlements from state
sources for seven years. On the 6th June 2011, this argument formed part of
our campaign submission to the Irish government. To resolve the issue, the
Defence Forces
(Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act (No 12) 2013, was initiated by the Minister for Defence Mr Alan
Shatter TD, on behalf of the Irish government, and is an unprecedented, and
historically significant piece of legislation, which exonerates members of
the Irish defence forces who went AWOL (absent without leave) and joined UK
or allied forces during world war two, and at the same time provides
immunity from prosecution for others. Accompanied by an apology, this
legislation comprehensively and unambiguously obliterates the imputation of
guilt imposed by the post war Irish government on former blacklisted Irish
defence force personnel. On Saturday the 15th June 2013, a private family
commemorative event
was held at the Irish National War Memorial,
Islandbridge, Dublin, to mark the passing of the Amnesty and Immunity Bill,
and it’s signing into Irish law on the 14th May 2013 by the President of
Ireland. Simultaneously with the Dublin event, poppy wreaths/crosses/flowers
were placed in remembrance at the war graves of known former Irish defence
force personnel and at war memorials in various countries worldwide.
Although the Irish Amnesty and Immunity Act
will address and resolve insofar as possible historical issues, the memory
of family experience will always be in the background and will take time to
heal. At least this generation of Irish politicians are making an honourable
attempt to rectify questionable past political decisions and have conducted
their debates constructively and sympathetically with due regard for all
concerns. Some have said the Amnesty legislation is perhaps too little to
late. However, there were political obstacles which bedevilled British Irish
relationships over the years and which arguably would have made it very
difficult for any Irish government to act on the issue prior to the Royal
visit to Ireland in May 2011. Irrespective, the Amnesty accompanied by an
apology will remove the stigma from those who were blacklisted and should
also be seen as an act of reconciliation. Yes, 68 years on from the end of
world war two might seem to little to late…but better late than never. Irish
Minister for Defence Mr Alan Shatter TD supported by his staff and members
of Dail and Seanad Eireann (Irish Parliament and Irish Senate) are to be
congratulated for having the political courage and integrity in bringing the
Amnesty and Immunity Act to a successful conclusion, and is an occasion of
historical significance. In the full knowledge that they have now been
formally recognised and honoured as part of the collective remembrance of
the island of Ireland, the last of our old soldiers, and their families, can
live out the rest of their lives with some semblance of honour restored.
Consequently, the Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign (WW2) was stood down on
the 15th June 2013.
IN
DECEMBER 2013, STUDENTS IN THE USA EMAILED THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1: What was the Irish Soldiers
Pardon Campaign?
ANS:
The Irish Soldiers
Pardons Campaign (WW2) was a campaign effort put together to obtain some
form of redress for servicemen who allegedly deserted the Irish Defence
forces during world war two to fight against the Nazis and Japanese, and
whom in August 1945 were dismissed en masse and in absentia by the Irish
government pursuant to
Emergency Powers Order (No 362) 1945,
which included dismissing those who had already been
killed in action.
2:
What was your involvement
in the 2013 Irish Soldiers Pardon Campaign?
ANS:
I initiated the campaign in May 2011 and managed the campaign
effort as a team project from the outset until its conclusion in June 2013.
3:
Why did you initiate 2013 Irish Soldiers Pardon Campaign?
ANS:
It
was the right thing to do. The cordial response from the Irish public to the
Queens visit to Ireland in May 2011, suggested that there would be a chance of success to seek redress from the
Irish government for these blacklisted soldiers and their families. There
was a legacy of hurt within family history which was still extant and needed
to be resolved. One had previous experience organising a campaign for
pardons for
executed Irish born British world war one soldiers
and was confident that the current Irish Government (Fine Gael/Labour
coalition) would be open to resolving historical and sensitive issues within
the context of the ongoing peace process. (See: Irish Examiner 16 March
2021: President Michael D Higgins has told Britain’s Queen Elizabeth that
her visit to Ireland in 2011 was “a moment of healing":
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40245236.html) (See: Irish
Independent Letters 10 September 2022
'Young Republicans In UCD were the first to suggest the Queen's visit to
the Garden of Remembrance' See also
KBC UCD Students Motion adopted November 09, 1994).
4: How did you
participate?
ANS: Made the submission, funded the project
throughout, designed the website, the leaflets, constructed the legal
arguments and organised the petition online and on the streets outside the
general post office in Dublin etc. Managing the campaign from the outset in
May 2011, until its successful conclusion in June 2013.
5: Did you meet any
resistance in the campaign?
ANS: Yes.
Initially there were vociferous objections through the letters page of the
press and argument was proffered that the defence of the state and loyalty
to their oath was paramount. Some of these contributors who objected to any
resolution to the pardons issue lacked an understanding of Irish military
law. Irrespective of various moral force arguments being promulgated as to
whether individuals joined UK forces or not Irish defence force personnel
alleged to be deserters post war were subject to Irish military law and as
such a court-martial had jurisdiction in which to try and punish any person
for an offence against military law, committed by such person while subject
to military law, and was the appropriate legal forum to adjudicate in each
case. Dail Eireann/Irish Parliament cannot stand as judge, jury and
executioner, is not a military court of law and no amount of side stepping
or obfuscation of the English language on the part of these objectors could
have changed that fact. The enactment of an Emergency Powers Order on the 8
August 1945 by the de Valera government to deal with the military offence of
desertion was a cynical political exercise which deprived a military court
of its jurisdiction, demonstrating an utter contempt for any rights that
defence force personnel may have had pursuant to the Irish constitution. The
issue has always been about political interference in dealing with the
military offence of desertion which inevitably led to an injustice because
the due process inherent in a court-martial and which is a distinct feature
and judicial attribute of an Irish military court of law was not observed by
the de Valera government post war. There were on street threats during the
petition signing but they were only made by a handful of individuals. The
majority of people were in support.
6:
What was the outcome?
ANS:
The introduction of the Irish
Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act (No 12) 2013
initiated by Minister for Defence Mr Alan Shatter TD on behalf of the Irish
Government is an unprecedented and historically significant legislative act
which exonerates members of the Irish defence forces who went AWOL (absent
without leave) and joined UK or allied forces during world war two, and
vindicates the campaign strategy.
7: What were the attitudes
towards the soldiers during World War II?
ANS:
There was a general anti-British view in Ireland and those
that joined UK forces would have been viewed by many as traitors.
8:
What were the attitudes
towards the soldiers after World War II?
ANS:
They would have been regarded as traitors. Survivors and their families post
war would have kept a low profile and got on as best they could. Many had to
emigrate back to the UK and other parts of the commonwealth as they could
not get a job in post war Ireland because of the barring order.
9: Have the attitudes of
Irish citizens changed since the campaign?
ANS:
Yes. The campaign prompted a debate which contributed to a better
understanding of the history of these men and their families and the
conditions they had to undergo in post war Ireland.
10:
In your opinion, were
the soldiers justified in joining the British Army?
ANS:
The legal issues as to the rights or responsibilities of defence force
personnel who went absent without leave to join allied forces in the fight
against the axis powers should have been adjudicated by the military courts
and not by politicians. However desertion in any army is a serious offence
and such offences are determined by the military courts/tribunals. During
world war two, the threats to international peace presented by the Nazis and
Japanese would suggest that a greater good was served by men joining UK or
allied forces in the fight against fascism. Although these men went absent
without leave to join in the fight they did not go absent to run away.
11: In your opinion, was
Ireland justified in its desire to remain neutral?
ANS:
Yes, absolutely. De Valera had no choice. However Irish neutrality was
benevolent in support of the allied war effort.
12:
In your opinion, was the government justified in its treatment of these
soldiers?
ANS:
No it was not justified. There were other constitutional ways to deal with
the issue. Irrespective of the emergency legislation that was introduced in
1939, those accused of desertion had a right in law to adduce evidence in
their defence. The
Emergency Powers Order
introduced
by the Irish Government in 1945 to dismiss and punish personnel was
NOT an adjudication by military
tribunal. In fact the post war Irish Government had for the sake of
political expediency subverted the function of the military courts to deal
with allegations of desertion which denied servicemen their constitutional
right to due process in a military court.
13:
Is there anything else you feel is important for us to know about this
topic?
ANS:
Please Note: In
1977 President Jimmy Carter, issued a broad amnesty to draft evaders and
argued that their crimes were forgotten, not forgiven. This qualification
made clear that the purpose of his amnesty was not to erase a criminal
act, nor to condone or forgive it, but simply to facilitate political
reconciliation. In contrast, the Irish Defence Forces
(Second
World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act (No 12) 2013
initiated by Minister for Defence Mr Allan Shatter TD on behalf of the Irish
Government, is an unprecedented and historically significant legislative act
which exonerates members of the Irish defence forces who went AWOL (absent
without leave) and joined UK or allied forces during world war two, and at
the same time provides immunity from prosecution for others. By excluding
compensation the Act also alleviates any financial burden that might have
been levied upon the state, and accompanied by an apology, comprehensively
and unambiguously obliterates the imputation of guilt imposed by the
introduction of Emergency Powers Order 362 on the 8th of August 1945. The
Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act (No 12) 2013
is an Amnesty and not a Pardon. A Pardon is the forgiveness of an offence,
whereas the construct and effect of this amnesty and immunity legislation is
to exculpate all concerned from allegations of desertion thereby removing
the stigma of dishonour associated with being blacklisted. The Minister for
Defence, Mr Alan Shatter TD, supported by his staff and members of Dail and
Seanad Eireann, are to be congratulated for having the political courage and
integrity in bringing the Amnesty and Immunity Act to a successful
conclusion and is an occasion of historical significance. In the full
knowledge that they have now been formally recognised and honoured as part
of the collective remembrance of the island of Ireland the last of our old
soldiers and their families can live out the rest of their lives with some
semblance of honour restored.
IRISH SOLDIERS
PARDONS CAMPAIGN (WW2) - TELEVISION/RADIO BROADCASTS: 2011-2013:
● Pardon For The Disowned Army - BBC Radio 4 - August 2012:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBS0mM-tryA&feature=youtu.be
● BBC One Show - 28 August 2012 - Britain's Irish Soldiers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUHLBfy04Vw&feature=youtu.be
● NDR Fernsehen Hamburg: The Long Road To Rehabilitation:
November 2012:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBNIgo6kHQ&feature=youtu.be
● British Forces TV: Pardon for Irish Troops Dubbed Deserters
07.05.13:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJeZ1I-Vc40
● TV News Compilation - 7 May 2013: Announcement of Amnesty
and Immunity Legislation re Irish Defence Force Personnel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBttXQETqIA&feature=youtu.be
● Voice of Russia UK: 08 May 2013: Irish Deserters Finally
Forgiven:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnNdiF5IAIg&feature=youtu.be
● BBC News-Europe: May 2013: WWII Irish 'deserters' finally
get pardons:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-22425684
● CBS TV: Forgotten Irish Soldiers - 24 May 2013:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cspyo4Zju-U
● RTE News: Saturday 15 June 2013: Conclusion of the Irish
Soldiers Pardons Campaign (WW2):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A4azvahxpw&feature=youtu.be
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES:
●
23 March 2012:
Irish Medical
Times:
Process was legally flawed from the outset:
●
12 June 2012:
REUTERS: Ireland pardons soldiers who deserted to fight Hitler:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ireland-wwii-idUSBRE85B1AB20120612
●
13 June 2012:
Belfast Telegraph: Republic to officially pardon 4,500 soldiers who
deserted:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/republic-to-officially-pardon-4500-soldiers-who-deserted-28759918.html
●
07 May 2013:
The Guardian: Unionists welcome pardon for Irish who joined British army to
fight Nazis:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/07/ireland-pardon-soldiers-british-army
●
07 May 2013:
Irish Mirror: Irish soldiers who joined the British Army in World War II
have received a State apology:
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/thousands-irish-soldiers-who-joined-1874528
●
08 May 2013:
The Times-London: Pardon for Irish troops who fought the Nazis:
http://www.irishseamensrelativesassociation.com/The-Times-London-08May2013.pdf
●
08 May 2013:
ABC News Australia: Ireland pardons World War II 'deserters':
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-08/ireland-pardons-world-war-ii-deserters/4677408
●
08 May 2013: News.com
Australia: Ireland pardons WWII soldiers who deserted:
https://www.news.com.au/world/breaking-news/ireland-pardons-wwii-soldiers-who-deserted/news-story/20d9233cf15ee91d94fe0604e28abf35
●
10 May 2013:
The Herald: Deserters Honoured:
“HAVE WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHO THE REAL TRAITORS
WERE”: by Gerry Gregg:
●
15 June 2013:
Irish Examiner: Pardoned soldier attends memorial:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30597589.html
●
15 June 2013:
Commemorations:
●
16 June 2013:
Sunday Independent:
Wreath-laying marks end of Irish pardon campaign:
●
17 June 2013: New Zealand:
Napier Ceremony for Irish Soldiers who Fought in WW11: Hawkes Bay Today:
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