Clean hands

Nato Conference Room

FitzJamesHorse pithily describes the formality that Irish is the “first national language” as Ireland’s “first national hypocrisy”. But Ireland is not short of hypocrisies. Its second national hypocrisy has long been the pretence that Ireland is somehow free of the sin of abortion. And to this list we should add a third, the conceit that Ireland is a “neutral country”. The second and third national hypocrisies are remarkably similar. In both cases Ireland has dodged a controversial issue by washing …

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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.”

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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“What happened to them was vindictive and not only a stain on their honour but on the honour of Ireland”

The BBC’s John Waite previews his forthcoming Radio 4 Face the Facts – The Disowned Army –  to be broadcast 12.30GMT on Wednesday 4 January 2012.  It’s subject, 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.  From the BBC article They were formally dismissed from the Irish army, stripped of all pay and pension rights, and prevented from finding work by being …

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