Formerly damned without right and pardoned (7)
I believe the answer is:
excused
'pardoned' is the definition.
('excuse' can be a synonym of 'pardon')
'formerly damned without right' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'formerly' could be 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime) and 'ex' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for excused that I've seen before include "Made allowances for" , "Let off (a duty)" , "Given permission to leave, or pardoned" , "Overlooked offence or released from duty" , "Granted exemption" .)