Family to appeal for Royal
Pardon for
Irish born WW1 Soldier
Shot at Dawn
Private Patrick Joseph Downey 6th Bn., Leinster Regiment aged 19, was executed
on Monday 27th December 1915 for the military offence of disobedience.
Patrick, son of Michael and Mary A. Downey, 1 Kellys Range, Vizes Fields,
Limerick, was
conditionally pardoned by the British Parliament in November 2006. However,
the recent publication of Forgotten Soldiers, about the Irishmen Shot at
Dawn by Stephen Walker now reinforces the longstanding belief of his
grandnephew Christy Walsh, that the conditional pardon granted to Patrick is
not sufficient and does not meet with the expectations of his family. Christy
states:
“Having read this publication and again consulted with a copy of the Irish
government report submitted to the British government in October 2004, and
taking into account all the circumstances of Patrick’s case, we as a family
are very unhappy that the conditional pardon granted in November 2006 to
Patrick does not overturn his original conviction or sentence”
“the
narrative in Forgotten Soldiers shows clearly that a miscarriage of
justice did occur and the Irish governments report highlights the Downey case
as having the hallmarks of a miscarriage of justice”.
“We believe Patrick was wrongly
convicted at the time by the
Misapplication of Military Law
and is "morally"
innocent of the military offence he was convicted and subsequently executed
for”.
“In
our families opinion, without the added weight of the royal prerogative of
mercy such conditional pardon is meaningless”
On
Tuesday 20th November 2007,
on
behalf of his granduncle Private Patrick Joseph Downey,
Mr Walsh
submitted his application
for a royal pardon
to the Queen,
through his excellency, Mr David Reddaway, the British ambassador in Dublin.
Further Information
-
Shot At Dawn: Irish Government
Report into the Courts-Martial and Execution of Twenty Six Irish Soldiers by
the British Army during World War 1. Department of Foreign Affairs, Dublin
2004.
Website:
21st November 2007 - Limerick Leader -
Downey Family to Seek Royal Pardon
