HC Deb 13 July 1874 vol 220 cc1609-11
MR. O'CONNOR POWER

, in moving for an Address for Returns of the names of Fenian prisoners who had died or become insane during the last 10 years, in consequence of the severity of the treatment to which they were subjected in prison, said, it should be borne in mind that they were "political" prisoners, and as such their sufferings were deserving the consideration of Parliament. The hon. Member concluded by moving the Resolution.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That an humble Address he presented to Her Majesty, praying that She will he graciously pleased to give directions that there he laid before this House, Returns of the names of the persons who died, or became insane, or permanently disabled at any time during the last ten years whilst suffering imprisonment under warrants issued by the Lords Lieutenant of Ireland by virtue of the powers conferred on them by the Habeas Corpus Suspension (Ireland) Acts and the Peace Preservation (Ireland) Acts: Of the names of any persons who, within the same period, died, or became insane, or permanently disabled whilst suffering imprisonment on account of their conviction, either as principals or accessories, of the murder of Serjeant Brett at Manchester: Of the names of any persons who, within the same period, died, or became insane, or permanently disabled whilst suffering imprisonment under convictions for treason-felony: And, of the names of any persons who, within the same period, died, or became insane, or permanently disabled whilst suffering imprisonment under sentences of Courts Martial in Ireland for offences against the Articles of War appearing to be connected with their complicity with the Fenian conspiracy."—(Mr. O'Connor Power.)

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

took exception to some expressions in the words of the Motion, as being calculated to convey a false and exaggerated impression of the facts; and as to some of the prisoners, he objected to the word "political" prisoners being applied to them, seeing that some of them had been accessories to the murder of an innocent man in the discharge of his duty. With regard to the observations of the hon. Gentleman in reference to the ill-treatment of these Fenian prisoners, the matter was fully inquired into in 1867, when the Commission was appointed to inquire into the condition of the Fenian prisoners at that time confined in England, and the Commissioners reported that there was not the slightest foundation for the charges made as to the exceptionally severe treatment of those prisoners. Subsequent inquiries which he (Mr. Cross) had caused to be made in reference to the Fenian prisoners, both in this country and in Ireland, had convinced him that such charges were wholly without foundation; and that, instead of the prisoners being treated with undue severity, as had been alleged, on the contrary they had been treated better than might have been expected. He regretted his duty gave him no option but to refuse the Returns.

Question put.

The House divided:—Ayes 21; Noes 92: Majority 71.

    c1611
  1. ALDERNEY HARBOUR BILL. 66 words