Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Brian Hayes for sharing time with me. I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome this debate. I went with Senator Mooney and the Connacht Rangers to Flanders 18 months ago and was taken aback by the huge sacrifice of soldiers and of the Irish regiments there. When Irish people who fought in the First World War returned home they returned to a different political climate and much of the time were not recognised for their valour during that awful war.

Files kept secret by the British Government for 75 years and released in 1990 indicated that 26 Irish-born soldiers were shot at dawn, part of the 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers shot. Most of those soldiers suffered from shell-shock and many of them were underage boys. It was encouraging to note that the 16th Irish Division and the Unionist, 36th Ulster Division fought side by side at the Battle of Messines. It is encouraging that both sides can come together. We can do the same again.

None of the men who were shot were charged with what would be viewed as a serious military crime, such as treachery, deserting to the enemy or mutiny. The real cowards in the executions were the powerful elite. It is wrong that this issue was not dealt with years ago. I pay tribute to those on all sides and the Government on their effort to clear the names of these men. Senator Brian Hayes highlighted the fact that those in higher officer were granted clemency by King George V. Now is the time to exonerate the 306 soldiers, among whom were the 26 Irish soldiers who fought valiantly. At the time they displayed a sense of adventure and were fighting for a united Ireland and home rule. They should be shown clemency.