Albert Luykx
Encyclopedia
Albert Luykx was a Flemish
businessman and former Nazi. He was born in the Flemish Region
(Vlaams Gewest) region in Belgium
to a family of furniture makers. Following the invasion of Belgium, the Luykx family, like most furniture makers during the Nazi occupation, made barracks for the occupying forces. Soon after the occupation, Luykx joined the 6th SS Volunteer Brigade of the Waffen-SS
. After the war, he was captured and sentenced to death by the Belgian authorities, though the sentence was later commuted to 20 years imprisonment.
He escaped in 1948 and, with the aid of Trappist monks
and the Catholic Church, escaped to the Netherlands
where, using false identity papers, he acquired a valid Dutch passport in the name of Franciscus Josef Faes. Then he travelled to the Republic of Ireland
. He was granted political asylum in Ireland
by the Minister for Justice Gerald Boland
, though after the Arms Crisis
, there were heated questions in the Dáil in 1971 about the admission of a foreigner who had been sentenced to death for Nazi collaboration and the fact he was granted Irish citizenship by the Minister for Justice James Everett
in 1954.
He ran numerous restaurants and bars in Ireland, finally buying the old Jameson family home, Sutton House, on Shielmartin Road in Sutton
, Dublin. Luykx raised Fallow Deer
on the grounds, which he acquired from Dublin County Council
, who were planning a partial cull of the Fallow Deer herd in the Phoenix Park
. Sutton House later became Sutton House Hotel and was run by Luykx's son-in-law, while Luykx built a family home and a factory on the grounds. He had two sons and four daughters.
He became friendly with figures such as Charles Haughey
. In 1971 it is alleged that he was asked by Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney
to acquire arms with the intention of arming the Irish Republican Army
. Luykx was subsequently tried in the resulting Arms Crisis. He was acquitted.
Following his death, his family home was sold to Neil Blaney.
Flemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
businessman and former Nazi. He was born in the Flemish Region
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
(Vlaams Gewest) region in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
to a family of furniture makers. Following the invasion of Belgium, the Luykx family, like most furniture makers during the Nazi occupation, made barracks for the occupying forces. Soon after the occupation, Luykx joined the 6th SS Volunteer Brigade of the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
. After the war, he was captured and sentenced to death by the Belgian authorities, though the sentence was later commuted to 20 years imprisonment.
He escaped in 1948 and, with the aid of Trappist monks
Trappists
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance , or Trappists, is a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered contemplative monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict...
and the Catholic Church, escaped to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
where, using false identity papers, he acquired a valid Dutch passport in the name of Franciscus Josef Faes. Then he travelled to the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He was granted political asylum in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
by the Minister for Justice Gerald Boland
Gerald Boland
Gerald Boland was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A founder-member of the party, he served in a number of Cabinet positions, most notably as the country's longest-serving Minister for Justice.-Early life:...
, though after the Arms Crisis
Arms Crisis
The Arms Crisis or Arms Trial was a political scandal in the Republic of Ireland in 1970, when two cabinet ministers — Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney — were sacked for allegedly attempting to illegally import arms for the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.-Background:The...
, there were heated questions in the Dáil in 1971 about the admission of a foreigner who had been sentenced to death for Nazi collaboration and the fact he was granted Irish citizenship by the Minister for Justice James Everett
James Everett
James Everett was an Irish politician. On leaving school Everett became an organiser with County Wicklow Agricultural Union, which later merged with the ITGWU. He was a member of Sinn Féin and served as a justice in the Republican courts for Kildare and Wicklow from 1919. He was first elected to...
in 1954.
He ran numerous restaurants and bars in Ireland, finally buying the old Jameson family home, Sutton House, on Shielmartin Road in Sutton
Sutton, Dublin
Sutton is a residential suburb of Dublin's Northside, Ireland, at the base of Howth Head, the peninsula which forms the northern edge of Dublin Bay.-Location and geography:...
, Dublin. Luykx raised Fallow Deer
Fallow Deer
The Fallow Deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. This common species is native to western Eurasia, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. It often includes the rarer Persian Fallow Deer as a subspecies , while others treat it as an entirely different species The Fallow...
on the grounds, which he acquired from Dublin County Council
Dublin County Council
Dublin County Council was a local authority for the administrative county of County Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1898....
, who were planning a partial cull of the Fallow Deer herd in the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
. Sutton House later became Sutton House Hotel and was run by Luykx's son-in-law, while Luykx built a family home and a factory on the grounds. He had two sons and four daughters.
He became friendly with figures such as Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
. In 1971 it is alleged that he was asked by Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney
Neil Blaney
Neil Terence Columba Blaney was a senior Irish politician. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1948 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála representing Donegal East. Blaney served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs , Minister for Local Government and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries...
to acquire arms with the intention of arming the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
. Luykx was subsequently tried in the resulting Arms Crisis. He was acquitted.
Following his death, his family home was sold to Neil Blaney.