HC Deb 08 March 1883 vol 276 cc1731-2
MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the proceedings of the Loughrea Board of Guardians, reported in the "Tuam News" of February 23rd; whether complaints and counter-complaints were made by the doctor and master of the Workhouse against each other; whether his attention has been called to the following passage in the report by the doctor:— There is quite enough to shock every member of the Board. Such a state of things is most dangerous to the public safety, and the case of Michael Forde (the man who was said to have died of starvation) gives a strong example, because the master's neglecting or refusing to supply on my very strong requisition a male attendant in all liklihood helped the man's death by exposure, as I believe all went to bed and that the man died during the night, as none could tell me when he died; whether, being examined by the Board, the doctor made the following among other statements:— A man has not got a dose of medicine as ordered by me not even three days after I gave the order. The nurses will not do anything ordered by me. The poor people are anxious to obey only they are afraid; they stated the master ordered them not to obey me. And, again referring to the case of Forde:— The man was mad and he wanted an attendant. What's the reason he did not get one? I believe that man perished (sensation). I believe, too, no one minded him that night; whether the following conversation took place between the chairman and the head nurse:— Chairman (to head nurse)—Why didn't you give medicine to the patient? Head Nurse—What can I do; the nurses won't do anything for me; won't stop up at night attending dying patients; whether the master, on the other hand, charged the doctor with incompetence and neglect of duty; and, whether severe distress exists in the locality in which this Union is situate, and how many applications for admission to the Workhouse there have been since the publication of these statements?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, my attention has been called to this matter. Charges and counter-charges have been made by the medical officer and master of the Loughrea Workhouse against each other, and the Local Government Board have felt it necessary to instruct one of their Inspectors to hold an inquiry on oath. I cannot say whether the passage quoted from the doctor's report is accurately quoted, as the original Report furnished to the Local Government Board is now with the Inspector at Loughrea, who is to hold his inquiry on this day. But as the whole matter is now the subject of a sworn investigation, this is of comparatively little importance. It has been represented that exceptional distress exists in the Union, and the Local Government Board are now in communication with the Guardians respecting the appointment of additional relieving officers. There have been 54 applications for admission to Loughrea Workhouse since the 23rd of February.