The Embassy of Ireland, London, submitted a report on 27 October 2004 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on my behalf which was entitled Shot at Dawn; A report into the courts-martial and execution of twenty-six Irish soldiers by the British Army during World War I. This report was the culmination of extensive research into the subject, including in regard to the courts-martial files of the Irish men in question which were provided following a meeting with the British Ministry of Defence in February 2004. Mr. Peter Mulvany, the Shot at Dawn Ireland co-ordinator, has been kept fully informed throughout this period, and remains in regular contact with my officials as matters progress.
The report submitted to the British side discusses in depth the current and contemporaneous grounds in support of our view that these men did not deserve their fate: The public and parliamentary unease on the subject of military executions at the time of the First World War is well documented. As recognised by the Deputy, this unease led to the death penalty being repealed for the particular offences under which each man was shot a mere ten years after the war had ended; there is evidence to suggest a disparity in the treatment of the lower ranks in comparison to officers, and statistics that highlight a harsher disciplinary regime faced by men from Ireland in comparison to men from other countries; and there are also concerns that both medical and mental symptoms apparent in those facing courts-martial were not adequately addressed prior to sentencing, and that convincing mitigating factors in a number of cases were ignored.
When these factors are combined with the obvious practice of the British Army at the time to control discipline through exemplary justice, then our case for retrospective pardons seems very strong. We have therefore asked that the British Government consider our report with a view to restoring the good names of these men. The British response in this regard is awaited.
