Sean Keane

Tom 'I do real news' Harwood with an early winner for 'Misinformed tweet of the week' Imagine, a political editor demonstrating they don't know something as basic as the sentiment of a nation during World War Two! For those interested, Ireland wasn't remotely pro-Axis in WW2. We have known since MI5 declassified its war files in 1999, the Irish gave every assistance possible to the Allies, short of declaring war which would have made no sense as it removed the many benefits and would have hurt the Allied war effort. Don't take my opinion on it - read the declassified MI5 files to see them conclude: 'Irish neutrality on balance an advantage’, because there was: ‘A greater contribution to the British cause through security cooperation, Irish exports and Irish civilian manpower, than would have Irish participation in the war’ In particular, they cite the impact of the loss of the 9% of Ireland's population who went to the UK war effort, who would have remained in Ireland if it was at war. None went to Germany incidentally - not one. The use of Irish seaplane bases and overflight of Irish territory, denied to Germany, also get a mention, as do the nationwide coast watch service spying on German military movements are passing the info to Britain for intercept. Or read the American declassified files, with 'J. Russell Forgan, acting head of American Intelligence in Europe, stating: ‘the Irish cooperated with the United States on intelligence matters as if they were Allies… They have never received the credit due to them’. American spy Martin Quigley was sent undercover as a film maker to gauge Irish sentiment. He said: ‘Openly the position was that of pretending neutrality in the classic sense. Actually, it was a neutrality against the Axis in favour of the Allies’. Here is a short summary on why people like Tom are misinformed, still playing catch up on a 20th century misunderstanding of history - nitter.gq/itsjohncrotty/status/2… And for those into more detail, here are the relevant declassified files with links that show Ireland's immense one way support, and the effort to discredit its efforts and intentions with lies - petty politics which was hidden until declassification nitter.gq/itsjohncrotty/status/1… World War Two is actually the beginning of Anglo-Irish relations, commenced by the goodwill of the benevolent Neville Chamberlain, put backwards by Churchill, and reignited by the decency of the British King who thanked the many Irish who served in the British Forces on the occasion of Ireland becoming a Republic. Someone might let Tom know...

Anti-Irish bigot Douglas Murray Who tries, poorly, to infer Ireland was pro-Axis in WW2. Suggesting a policy of neutrality identical to America, Belgium, and many others, was unusual or untoward? The reality? It’s a common misconception of the 20th century that remains among those who stopped reading history MI5, in their declassified Ireland file, released 1999, says “Ireland was of more use neutral” Acting head of Americas Office of Secret Services in Europe in WW2, said: “The Irish cooperated as if they were Allies - they have never received the credit due to them” The facts show Ireland worked with the Allies by: - Contacting British intelligence in 1938. - Arranging secret joint defence plans with Britain to counter a German invasion - running a nationwide coast watch which reported German shipping & air movements to Britain - Giving Air & sea access to Irish territory denied to Germany - Routing of German & Italian communications to Ireland through London for spying purposes - Full unrestricted access to all mail to & from Ireland for censorship purposes - Full unrestricted access & cooperation with MI5 - Use of Irish airports for British military aircraft - 48k mostly military & refuges through Foynes - Codebreaking Axis embassies wireless sets & sharing info - Reducing Irish broadcast efficiency so German bombers couldn’t use it for guidance - Returning downed or sunk Allied aircrew & sailors while interning German - Facilitation of huge Irish enlistment in the UK armed forces & war labour 210k Irish went to UK Armed Forces or factories - 9% of the population, and all Irish savings & investment to UK No Irish went to Hitlers forces - not one. The Irish government gave nothing to Germany, being one of the few neutrals to criticise German actions Don’t get your history from uneducated bigots like Douglas