Irish Soldiers Pardon (WW2) Campaign

Irish Justice Minister: “a tribute to how far we have come as a society”

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As promised by the Irish Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, in June last year, legislation has been passed by Dáil and Seanad providing for the granting of an amnesty and apology for the way the Irish State treated members of its Defence Forces who left to join the Allied Forces during World War II.  I’ve noted previously the historical debate in Dáil Éireann in 1945.  From the Irish Times report In his closing statement on the Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity Bill 2012) to …

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“Those who fought on the Allied side also contributed to protecting this State’s sovereignty and independence and our democratic values.”

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Success, then, for the Irish Soldiers Pardon (WW2) Campaign.  I’ve noted previously the historical debate in Dáil Éireann in 1945.  Now, as the BBC reports, Defence Minister Alan Shatter has told the Dáil that the Irish government will introduce legislation “to grant a pardon and amnesty to those who absented themselves from the Defence Forces without leave or permission to fight on the Allied side” [added link]. The Irish Times report has more from the Irish Defence Minister’s statement Pointing out individuals were not given a chance …

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“We were neutral for one purpose and that is that we were Britain’s home defence”

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Mick has already pointed to the Irish Times article at the weekend by Joseph Quinn on the post-World War II treatment in Ireland of around 5,000 Irish soldiers who deserted their own neutral army to join the British army and fought in Europe and elsewhere.  The “confidential” list of those affected is still available from Ireland’s National Army Museum. But, via the Irish Soldiers Pardon (WW2) Campaign website, there are a couple of items to highlight. Firstly, the instrument at issue – the Emergency Powers (no. 362) Order, …

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