§ MR. AIRD (Paddington, N.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What compensation is to be given to Michael Brannigan and Peter Murphy, improperly convicted and sentenced to penal servitude for life, and of which period they had served in prison nine years?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Pending the trial of two persons who have been committed for the burglary of which Brannigan and Murphy were convicted it can scarcely be asserted that the conviction was improper; and no claim for compensation on the part of Brannigan and Murphy could properly be entertained. The matter is one which will have my close attention.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House as to the exact position of Brannigan and Murphy. Have they not been released as free men?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI stated the exact position of Brannigan and Murphy the other day—namely, that they had been released on licence.