The headstone at the grave of Moate man Joseph Mullally in Bayeux War Cemetery, France. Mr Mullally, a 28-year-old who left the Irish Army to join the Allies during World War Two, was killed on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Pardon for 100 Westmeath men who fought with Allies in war

Published: Thu 9 May 2013, 8:39 AM

Last updated: Thu 9 May 2013, 9:41 AM

Legislation providing for the granting of an amnesty and apology to Defence Forces members who fought with Allied forces during World War II, including an estimated 100 from Westmeath, was enacted this week.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said the legislation would help make amends for the shameful way they were treated after World War II.

After World War II ended, Taoiseach Eamon De Valera’s government drew up a list of almost 5,000 names and addresses of former Defence Forces members who were formally “dismissed for desertion in time of National Emergency.”

The men were vilified by the government because they had left the Irish Army to join the Allies and fight in the war.

A campaign to honour their contributions to the battle against fascism and Nazism has been under way for almost two years and it achieved a breakthrough last year with the news when Defence Minister Alan Shatter announced they would be offered an amnesty and officially pardoned. Legislation to this effect was expected to be signed on Tuesday.

While some of the WW2 veterans are still alive, the majority are not. One of the locals who signed up for the British Army was Joseph Mullally, a 28-year-old from Moate, who was killed in Normandy on D-Day: June 6, 1944.

The list, which the government circulated after the war, formally fired the men from the army and stripped them of all pay and pension rights.