Our benevolent neutrality tended to favour one side over the other

IN his letter (September 26), Dr Martin Mansergh says “Britain and Ireland were not enemies during World War II”. But that goes without saying since neutral Ireland self-evidently had no enemies.

Dr Mansergh observes that a “considerable coincidence of interest” existed between both states — hence shared intelligence, co-operation etc.

Ireland then had its own limited, benevolent neutrality which essentially equated to non-belligerence.

Witness the contrasting treatment of captured combatants. British captives were readily released while German prisoners were detained “for the duration”.

In the end, they were delivered to the Allies to avail of ‘victor’s justice’.

JA Barnwell

5 St Patrick’s Road

Dublin 9