Sir, – In 1999 while researching my dissertation “The Untouchables: Order 362” (UCC), cited in Ireland and the Second World War (2000) I was appalled by the gross inhumanity of the dialogue issuing from our public representatives in the Dáil of 1945. The deserters were referred to as pariah dogs, untouchables and worse – traitors to their country and “a threat to the State”.
The second World War had ended and the then government of Éamon de Valera was hugely concerned about the returning de-mobbed Irish/British soldiers and all other Irish workers on farms and in factories, etc. It would appear that sentencing 5,000 deserters and their families to abject poverty through the starvation order of 362 would ease the strain on the public purse. All of this is well documented in Dáil debates and contemporary press.
On researching the press reports of the court-martials of these Irish deserters – most of whom were arrested having returned to Ireland for a parent’s funeral – I was particularly struck by the complete lack of reference to their survival of their horrific war experiences or their contribution to the end of heinous Nazi world domination.
In 1999 I was in contact with quite a few reporters from various publications and made them aware of this abominable Order 362 and its consequences of family division and deprivation; particularly since it was enacted by the self-proclaimed defender of the Irish family, Éamon de Valera. No one seemed interested then, so it is good that the issues are being addressed now.
The debate in your paper now seems to have moved to the legal status, of the deserters and to their right to a pardon but is this not more about humanity and justice?
And does it not reveal/expose a dark side of Ireland in 1945 – one which we would rather ignore, not explore? Whatever motives those 5,000 deserter soldiers had when enlisting, we should acknowledge their effort. – Yours, etc,