Labour stance on issue of army desertions

Further to the current controversy regarding those who deserted the Irish Army during the Second World War, the silence of the Labour Party is deafening. It was far from silent at the time.

Speaking on behalf of the party on Oct 18, 1945, James Larkin Jr TD explained why the party would be voting against the Fine Gael motion to annul the government order in respect of such deserters: “While knowing personally that many men did desert and go elsewhere because of the undoubted hardships their dependents were undergoing during the war, countless other men bore equally great hardships on themselves and their families and did not desert. Whatever may be said for the views held by individuals as regards the issues involved in the war — and I suppose we all have our own views — it is correct that our own country claims our first duty and responsibility. From that point of view, we must take the attitude that we support in principle the continuance of the Order and will vote against the motion.”

Manus O’Riordan