Sir, – With regard to the campaign to pardon soldiers who deserted the Irish Army during the second World War, Robert Widders (June 24th) is quite wrong to say they were punished for the “crime of fighting against the Nazis”. They were, in fact, punished for the crime of deserting their national army, in which they had voluntarily enlisted. Even today that would be considered a crime under military law anywhere in the world. It should also be noted that the punishment for desertion is often significantly worse than public vilification.
At the time when these men deserted, a State of Emergency was in place in Ireland and the country was living under the very real threat of invasion, both from the Nazis and from Britain. As such, it is quite understandable that the government of the day felt compelled to halt such large-scale desertion.
This campaign is, in effect, asking the Government to conclude that it is sometimes acceptable for members of our armed forces to leave and join a foreign army without permission. Can anyone seriously believe that kind of precedent should be set? – Yours, etc,