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Today marks 100 years since the beginning of the First World War

Within a week all the European superpowers were locked in conflict.

World War One - Kaiser Wilhelm II - Battle of the Somme Kaiser Wilhelm II witnesses the Battle of the Somme. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

100 YEARS AGO, as today, global superpowers were engaged in an game of brinkmanship that found an outlet in local conflicts in Eastern Europe.

Now, the stage is in Ukraine, but it 1914 it was in the Balkans and today marks the centenary of the day that World War I effectively commenced.

On 28 July 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia and, within the space of a week, the five major powers in Europe were all at war.

The declaration of war happened a month to the day after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated by a Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo.

Austria was unhappy with the Serbian response to the killing and, after being reassured of the backing of its its ally Germany, proceeded with a military response.

Russia had promised support to Serbia and the following day Germany and Russia were at war, activating alliances between France and Britain that saw them enter the conflict.

Unlike the Second World War when there was no large-scale engagement between the dominant powers for months, the First World War saw almost immediate action with Germany invading Luxembourg and Belgium witnin five days.

Today’s centenary follows that of the the assassination last month in what will be regular commemorations of the events that shaped the the Great War.

The anniversary of the battle’s of Marne in September will be recognised as the anniversary of the first historically significant major engagement of the war. The open field battle was the last such of the war and once it had finished the trench warfare associated with the war had been established.

Read: WWI recruitment posters feature on new An Post stamps >

Read: Remembering the 1,000 Limerick soldiers who died during World War I >

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27 Comments
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    Mute Trevor croft
    Favourite Trevor croft
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:35 PM

    I have 2 beautiful little girls, it sends a shiver down my spine thinking about what this filthy animal has done to those to innocent little kids, life in prison is not half enough punishment, sickening

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    Mute The Truth Hurts
    Favourite The Truth Hurts
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:47 PM

    You are not alone with thoughts like that…. It sickens me to the core.

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    Mute Steven Flannery
    Favourite Steven Flannery
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:21 PM

    Straight away there thinking about parole , life is life , people like that can not be changed , why does the justice system think they can reform every prisoner some people are just bad, there is no other country in the world were this prisoner will get special care , it’s a disgrace

    259
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    Mute Ronan Sexton
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:48 PM

    He wasn’t given two life sentences, he was given one. It’s high time we did away with this concurrent sentencing fiasco. Absolute nonsense. What idiot thought up of that? Jesus.

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    Mute john fahy
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:34 PM

    He will face justice when he gets to prison , word of that terrible atrocity will be there before him and he will receive what’s coming to him

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    Mute Steven Flannery
    Favourite Steven Flannery
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:36 PM

    He will be protected all his life in there and get 3 course meals and sky tv just some of the perks he will get

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    Mute Rufus Hound
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:50 PM

    They won’t be sending him to the ‘Joy, John. It’ll be Arbour Hill, most probably, with the other sex offenders.

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    Mute Mossie Murphy
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:37 PM

    A horrible beast.. He was lucky not to be lynched.

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:59 PM

    Why would somebody red thumb that comment ? A closet pedophile ? Another deranged person with inklings of attacking young girls ? HOW can anybody who is in any way human at all not agree that lynching is what that animal needed ? And there’ll be the do gooders saying “let the law decide”, BS this animal needed and needs putting down. He orally,anally and vaginally raped SIX and NINE year old girls !!!! HOW TF does he deserve any better ? My God my blood is boiling at what happened those poor kids,I’d take his life in a heart beat and know that God would forgive me.

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 10:54 PM

    Yes Justice was served,and to the best extent that the law allowed. However I’ll state again what I stated earlier,we need to hold a referendum in this country to introduce changes to our judicial laws and sentencing. Two questions,A. Do you want to introduce and give a judge the ability to impose FULL LIFE sentences in cases of 1st degree murder,rape of and sexual assault of children and adults. B. Do you want to introduce and give a judge the ability to impose the death penalty in cases of 1st degree murder,rape of and sexual assault of children and adults. Obviously the wording may need changing,I’m no lawyer but you get my drift. Let the people decide how depraved people like this animal are sentenced,we were allowed do it for judges pay and should be given this right as well. IMO the judicial process and sentencing in this country is way too lenient in cases such as these. Wouldn’t it be nice to see REAL JUSTICE handed out for a change ? Prayers and thoughts with these victims and the many countless victims of crime in our country who see their perpetrators get away with sentences that in no way reflect their crime.

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    Mute HarpoAV
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 11:28 PM

    Recovery is possible ????? Really ???? I read the other article about the victim impact statements with tears streaming down my face …. Those poor children and their poor parents !!! How will they ever get over what happened …. I know there’s support there for them but will it ever take those images away or bring back the innocence of those little girls ??
    I hope they find some peace though …. And that monster gets what’s coming to him

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 11:49 PM

    Who would give this animal parole AGAIN?

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