Senator's memoirs recall wartime adventures

Memoirs of the only serving Irish politician to have fought with the British Army’s commando unit during the Second World War are to be launched tonight.

The "warts-and-all" book details the adventures of Jack Harte, who joined thousands of other Irish men to fight fascism in the 1930s and 40s across Europe.

A commando with the SAS and Special Boat Service, Harte ran covert operations behind enemy lines and was taken prisoner of war but survived to return to Dublin after the war.

The book recalls how, in 1937, the then 16-year-old left Dublin penniless and with only the clothes on his back and ran away in search of adventure.

After a brief but eye-opening spell in Malta, he was shipped to Palestine before returning to the Mediterranean to fight with the British.

Mr Harte went on to serve in Seanad Éireann for 22 years and met many international statesmen including the Palestinian leader Easier Arafat.

To the 'Limits Of Endurance – One Irishman’s War', by Jack Harte and Sandra Mara, will be launched in the Dáil.