War of Independence veterans’ widows get €6.5m pension payouts over 6 years

The widows of deceased War of Independence veterans have received almost €6.5m in pension payments from the State in the past six years.

The last surviving combatants of the war that took place between 1919 and 1921 died in 2006, but 121 of their widows were still in receipt of pensions in respect of their service last year.

The number of surviving spouses has steadily declined in recent years, falling from 383 in 2009, to 203 in 2012, and 121 in 2014.