Soldiers to receive pardons

The Government is to issue a pardon within three months to thousands of Irish soldiers who joined the British to fight Germany.

Legislation to pardon the former troops — who were blacklisted and branded deserters — cleared one of its final hurdles yesterday as it passed through a committee stage in the Dáil.

A Department of Defence spokeswoman said it was now hoped the law would be enacted before the end of July. The bill provides for the granting of an amnesty and immunity from prosecution to 5,000 soldiers who fought with the Allies.

The men were dismissed from the army under special powers introduced during the Second World War.

Defence Minister Alan Shatter has already apologised to the ex-soldiers and referred to them as idealists.