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British Army recruitment halted at Irish jobs centre

A jobs centre in the Republic has been forced to stop promoting careers in the British Army — because it is an offence punishable by imprisonment.

The row broke out when jobseekers in the troubled Moyross estate in Limerick received letters informing them of positions available in “the Royal Irish Army”. However, the posts were in the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR), an infantry unit of the British Army.

The Millennium Jobs Club sent out the letters promoting the jobs in the RIR — but it is a criminal offence under the Republic’s Defence Act of 1954 to encourage a person to join a foreign army.

When unemployed people with the jobs club received the letter, they were obliged to inquire about the position. Failure to respond could result in them being removed from the register and losing their dole payments.

Sinn Fein councillor Maurice Quinlivan said the letter had caused concern among several families.

Belfast Telegraph

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