A RETIRED North-East schoolteacher who campaigns for pardons for British soldiers executed during the First World War has won high praise.

Brian Cowen, Irish minister for foreign affairs, commended John Hipkin, from Newcastle, when he announced his support for Ireland's Shot at Dawn campaign.

Mr Hipkin, the British Shot at Dawn co-ordinator, has worked for years for pardons for 306 British soldiers who he claimed were unjustifiably executed following field courts-martial during the war.

Mr Cowen said: "The determination and selfless effort of those involved in the campaign over the past few years does them great credit and I applaud the substantial efforts made by them toward recognition of their goals."

The campaign is focused on offences that were repealed in the British Army and Air Force Acts of 1928 and 1930, which include cowardice, desertion and falling asleep at post.

The Irish campaign, co-ordinated by Peter Mulvaney, is seeking a retrospective pardon for 26 of those executed men born in Ireland.

Mr Cowen said: "I have instructed my officials to begin discussions with British counterparts to re-establish the good names of these Irishmen."

Statistics show that in comparison to British, Canadian and New Zealand troops, Irish soldiers were four times more likely to be executed as a result of a court martial.