This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/07/ireland-pardon-soldiers-british-army

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ireland to pardon soldiers who joined British army to fight Nazi Germany Unionists welcome pardon for Irish who joined British army to fight Nazis
(about 3 hours later)
The Irish government is to formally pardon thousands of soldiers who were branded traitors and deserters for fighting for Britain against Hitler in the second world war. Unionists in Northern Ireland have welcomed the Irish government's decision to formally pardon thousands of Irishmen branded traitors and deserters for fighting for Britain against Hitler in the second world war.
Thousands of Irishmen were barred from civil service jobs and ostracised in the Irish Free State after the war because they had joined the British armed forces, some of them even deserting the Irish army to sign up in the struggle to defeat Nazi Germany. The move will be perceived as another step in improving relations between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Free State had been neutral in the second world war. Thousands were barred from civil service jobs and ostracised in the Irish Free State after the war because they had joined the British armed forces, some of them deserting the Irish army to sign up against the struggle to defeat Nazi Germany.
The Irish defence minister, Alan Shatter, is due on Tuesday to announce details of the pardon during a debate in parliament. The decree is expected to be passed and signed into law by the Irish president, Michael D Higgins, within days. The Free State had been neutral in the war.
The relatives of the 5,000 soldiers have been campaigning for an apology and pardon. The Irish defence minister, Alan Shatter, is due to announce details of the pardon during a debate in parliament on Tuesday. The decree is expected to be passed and signed into law by the Irish president, Michael D Higgins, within days.
Peter Mulvany, the co-ordinator of the Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign, said: "It will be a recognition that the experience they went through was unfair. It was a punishment they should not have been given." Ulster Unionist assembly member Michael Copeland paid tribute to the 5,000 southern Irishmen who joined the allies and welcomed the move by the Dublin coalition.
"They were not traitors, they were heroes, and I welcome the fact that the republic as a state now formally recognises that fact," he said.
"With the passing of time, a relatively small number of the affected men are still with us, but many family members are still alive who have first-hand memories of the injustice and discrimination suffered in the postwar years at the hands of the Irish state."
Copeland added: "I trust that the apology and pardon from the current Dublin government will be of some comfort to the veterans and their families. I salute their memory."
The relatives of the 5,000 soldiers have been campaigning for an apology and pardon. Peter Mulvany, the co-ordinator of the Irish Soldiers Pardons Campaign, said: "It will be a recognition that the experience they went through was unfair. It was a punishment they should not have been given."
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8amguardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am