Mixed messages here....
Will Ireland forgive its soldiers of the King?
The Irish government has finally announced that it is giving active consideration to exonerating the thousands of Irish army deserters who joined the British Army during the Second World War.........
Sinn Fein to back pardons for 'deserters' who fought for Britain in World War II
A CAMPAIGN in Ireland to pardon 5000 men who deserted from the country's forces to fight for Britain in World War II is likely to be backed by Sinn Fein, the Republican party that sought Nazi support against the British.
It has emerged that Sinn Fein is ready to add its voice to calls in the Dail, the Irish Parliament, for a pardon. During the war, Irish Republicans said that they would welcome German invaders as "friends and liberators".
Johnathan O'Brien TD, Sinn Fein's justice spokesman, said that the party's position was still under review, but party officials spoke of the pardon as a matter of natural justice. "Of course these men should be pardoned," said a Sinn Fein spokesman. "These are old men who fought in a world war against fascism. They fought for a just cause. I don't imagine anyone would claim they shouldn't have the same rights as anybody else."
Military chiefs 'baffled' by BBC story about Army deserters
IRISH Army deserters who fought with the British during World War II are not currently being considered for a pardon.
The BBC had claimed yesterday that the Irish Government "would take action" on the matter in the coming months. But a statement from the Department of Defence contradicted this, saying Minister Alan Shatter was baffled by the story.
The minister has instead sought the advice of the Attorney General amid the campaign for the pardoning of an estimated 5,000 Irish soldiers who deserted the Irish Army to fight with the Allies against Hitler.
But a final decision on the matter is not expected soon...........