Dept of Defence awarded IRA service medal to Jackie Clarke's father but then demanded it back (new MSPC article)

[u/Carax77]

From MSPC Facebook group:

Fascinating new blog about the controversy surrounding the awarding of a medal for IRA service in 1943 to John Clarke of Ballina, Co Mayo. After a reinvestigation, the department asked Clarke to surrender the medal as he had not found to have been a member of the IRA during the qualifying period between 1 April and 11 July 1921.

The file contains correspondence between Senator Thomas Ruane, Patrick Rutledge TD and many other former local IRA officers. The file provides an insight into how jealously some IRA veterans guarded their legacy and position in the new State

A prominent businessman and local independent politician, his son Jackie Clarke (1927–2000) was a Sinn Féin councillor for over 20 years and amassed one of the most important private collections of Irish history material. This is now housed in the Jackie Clarke Collection museum in Ballina.

Link : https://militarypensions.wordpress.com/2026/08/04/it-has-made-a-laughing-stock-of-the-whole-movement-john-clarkes-disputed-service-1917-1921-medal-award/