Different moral compass on desertions

By granting an amnesty, a pardon and an apology to those Irish soldiers who abandoned their posts and their oath-pledged duty to Ireland during the Second World War and enlisted in the British army, Defence Minister Alan Shatter has held the Irish Defences Forces up to public ridicule and humiliation.

I have no issue with the men and women who left these shores to work in Britain in the munitions industries, or fought for the Allies against fascism, but those Irish soldiers who deserted their posts and left this country more vulnerable to attack were duty-bound to stay.

They volunteered, they were not conscripted.

They swore an oath to defend Ireland but betrayed that oath.

No amount of amnesties, pardons or apologies from presidents, or ministers for justice, will make right what is wrong.

Those who deserted, and those who champion their cause, operate from a different moral compass than I.

Tom Cooper

Knocklyon

Dublin 16