Thousands of former British military personnel from the Republic of Ireland who need help or support are being urged to contact a veterans commissioner appointed by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State
There are more than 150,000 British military veterans living in Northern Ireland.
It is estimated that over 10,000 veterans from south of the border and their families could also qualify for assistance.
Many served with the Royal Irish Regiment. Thousands also passed through the ranks of the Irish Guards. The regiment, referred to as "the Micks", featured in an RTÉ Nationwide programme 13 years ago.
Former British Army Officer Danny Kinahan was appointed as Northern Ireland Veteran's Commissioner last year.
"We know that around 600 people from the Republic of Ireland join the armed forces, that’s the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the Army every year," he says.
"When you go from the Second World War onwards we estimate there are at least 10,000 Irish soldiers in the British military, and the figure could be considerably higher."
The British attaché based in Dublin asked him to include British military veterans living south of the border in a new initiative to identify as any as possible and to make them aware of help that might be available.
He is enlisting the support of regimental associations, councils, charities and community organisations and will be launching a social media campaign.
The Commissioner said help could be available for veterans and their families on a wide range of issues.
"The Armed Forces Covenant which is going through at the moment is there to help them with health, with education, with employment, and with housing," he explains.
"Those are the standard four, but there are all the issues that come through to anyone in their age and there is an awful lot of issues that come to you because you've been in the military and served, so mental health is one of the highest."
The commissioner acknowledges that many veterans in the Republic may be reluctant to ask for help because of the controversial role of the British military in Ireland.
"It is still an issue," he says.
"There are those who have been afraid because of the Troubles here, there were those who were afraid to because of the history in Ireland, and for a long time it was something you just didn’t speak about.
"But now I think we’re past that, politics has changed, and we’re there really to help all of them, but they won’t necessarily know that, so part of the reason for this initiative is to give them the contact details and make them aware of what is available.
"I don’t have a database to contact veterans personally, so I am relying on other organisations to help me cascade the information to those who need it."
British military veterans living in the Republic of Ireland who want to contact the Commissioner are asked to call 0044 2890527734 or email him at commissioner@nivco.co.uk
