The British Crown persecuted Irish Catholics for centuries. The Crown was complicit in such fun times as the Famine and the murder of Catholic people in the occupied six counties.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, the old saying goes.
A bit shortsighted considering Nazi notions of gratitude.
In other words, during WWII... the Irish thought Nazi Germany to be their friend.
One is measured by the company you keep. So shall Ireland.