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WWII Irish 'deserters' finally get pardons | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
In Ireland's war memorial gardens, the dates of both world wars are carved into the stone of a monument. | In Ireland's war memorial gardens, the dates of both world wars are carved into the stone of a monument. |
But this country remained neutral in the conflict between 1939 and 1945. | But this country remained neutral in the conflict between 1939 and 1945. |
In order to fight in World War II, thousands of soldiers left the country and the Irish Army to join the British forces. | In order to fight in World War II, thousands of soldiers left the country and the Irish Army to join the British forces. |
They became known as deserters - a title intended to carry shame. And when they returned after battle many were treated as anything but heroes. | They became known as deserters - a title intended to carry shame. And when they returned after battle many were treated as anything but heroes. |
'Made to feel ashamed' | 'Made to feel ashamed' |
In Paddy Reid's home there are pictures of his father Paddy senior serving alongside British troops in Burma. For years they remained in the attic largely ignored. | In Paddy Reid's home there are pictures of his father Paddy senior serving alongside British troops in Burma. For years they remained in the attic largely ignored. |
"I am sure when my dad came back he didn't feel ashamed but he may have been made to feel that," Mr Reid said. | "I am sure when my dad came back he didn't feel ashamed but he may have been made to feel that," Mr Reid said. |
"I was told as a kid - your father is a traitor, you should be ashamed of him. | "I was told as a kid - your father is a traitor, you should be ashamed of him. |
"There was no relief, no sense of a job done... It was pretty oppressive in this country." | "There was no relief, no sense of a job done... It was pretty oppressive in this country." |
Apology and pardon | Apology and pardon |
Deserters were found guilty of going absent without leave by a military tribunal. | Deserters were found guilty of going absent without leave by a military tribunal. |
Their punishment came after the war when many of the soldiers headed home to Ireland. | Their punishment came after the war when many of the soldiers headed home to Ireland. |
They were barred from holding jobs paid for by the state, they lost their pension rights and many faced discrimination. | They were barred from holding jobs paid for by the state, they lost their pension rights and many faced discrimination. |
Last year the Irish government apologised for the way they were treated and on Tuesday Defence Minister Alan Shatter is due to announce details of a pardon during a debate in Ireland's parliament, the Dail. | Last year the Irish government apologised for the way they were treated and on Tuesday Defence Minister Alan Shatter is due to announce details of a pardon during a debate in Ireland's parliament, the Dail. |
The legislation is expected to be passed and signed into law by the Irish president within days. | The legislation is expected to be passed and signed into law by the Irish president within days. |
The bill also grants an amnesty and immunity from prosecution to the almost 5,000 Irish soldiers who fought alongside the allies. | The bill also grants an amnesty and immunity from prosecution to the almost 5,000 Irish soldiers who fought alongside the allies. |
Campaign victory | Campaign victory |
Campaigners say only a handful of men are still alive, but it is a victory for their long battle to ensure the troops' service is properly recognised. | Campaigners say only a handful of men are still alive, but it is a victory for their long battle to ensure the troops' service is properly recognised. |
"It might be an historical issue for the politicians, but not for the families," Peter Mulvany, coordinator of the Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign, said. | "It might be an historical issue for the politicians, but not for the families," Peter Mulvany, coordinator of the Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign, said. |
"It will be a recognition that the experience they went through post-war was unfair. | "It will be a recognition that the experience they went through post-war was unfair. |
"It was a punishment that they should not have been given. | "It was a punishment that they should not have been given. |
"This amnesty, this exoneration will remove that stigma." | "This amnesty, this exoneration will remove that stigma." |
Upset at deserters | Upset at deserters |
The soldiers were, of course, always proud of having played a part in the battle against Nazi Germany. | The soldiers were, of course, always proud of having played a part in the battle against Nazi Germany. |
But leaving one army to join another was controversial in the 1940s. | But leaving one army to join another was controversial in the 1940s. |
The relationship between the relatively recent Irish Free State and Britain was strained. | The relationship between the relatively recent Irish Free State and Britain was strained. |
And there was a practical reason for people to be upset - many felt the men were needed at home. | And there was a practical reason for people to be upset - many felt the men were needed at home. |
In his house, Paddy Reid has a letter from a soldier who served in the Irish Army during the war years. | In his house, Paddy Reid has a letter from a soldier who served in the Irish Army during the war years. |
In it, the former officer criticises the way the deserters were treated after 1945, but he says within the country's forces there was anger at their decision. | In it, the former officer criticises the way the deserters were treated after 1945, but he says within the country's forces there was anger at their decision. |
They believed that every soldier was needed to ensure Ireland was able to defend itself against the threat of invasion. | They believed that every soldier was needed to ensure Ireland was able to defend itself against the threat of invasion. |
Effect on families | Effect on families |
However, the punishment the former troops faced had an effect on their whole families in peacetime. | However, the punishment the former troops faced had an effect on their whole families in peacetime. |
"My dad could not find work for many years - in fact his first real job was not until 1961," said Mr Reid, who became visibly upset as he remembered what happened decades ago. | "My dad could not find work for many years - in fact his first real job was not until 1961," said Mr Reid, who became visibly upset as he remembered what happened decades ago. |
"My mother was the one who really carried the stress of trying to survive on almost nothing. | "My mother was the one who really carried the stress of trying to survive on almost nothing. |
"It was tough trying to bring up kids with no money and abuse at the same time. | "It was tough trying to bring up kids with no money and abuse at the same time. |
"It was a whole lifetime of defending your dad." | "It was a whole lifetime of defending your dad." |
In Ireland, time has brought a new perspective to the actions of the men dismissed as 'deserters'. | In Ireland, time has brought a new perspective to the actions of the men dismissed as 'deserters'. |
Their families hope a pardon will mean in future they are remembered only with honour. | Their families hope a pardon will mean in future they are remembered only with honour. |