Sir, – Both Peter Mulvany (June 28th) and Robert Widders (June 24th) clearly imply that the actions of those Irish soldiers who deserted the Army and joined the Allied Forces to fight against the Nazis, somehow confers legitimacy on their actions. It doesn’t.
Regardless of the nobleness of their intentions their actions were legally, morally and ethically wrong. Right and wrong are not convertible terms dependent upon popular opinion. Dáil Éireann voted to remain neutral during the second World War and Irish soldiers swore an Oath of Allegiance to defend the liberty of the Irish State, not betray it.
These men may have had a conscientious objection to being left out of a fight for liberty, but nonetheless their illegal actions imperilled the sovereignty of this nation. They had a duty of honour to uphold the will of the Irish people as expressed in our legislation and no amount of subterfuge can alter that fact. One wonders if Mr Mulvany and Mr Widders would be campaigning so vigorously on behalf of these deserters if it was the Wehrmacht and not the British army they had joined? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The decision taken by some 4,000 Irish troops to go “absent without leave” from the national Army during the last war was of course desertion if a narrow legalistic view is taken.
From a moral perspective, however, to leave in order to join a belligerent army engaged in resisting the evil of fascism, and risking one’s life in so doing, can only be seen as an act of the highest altruism and heroism.These men should be honoured and remembered with pride for their sacrifice. – Yours, etc,