MR. SULLIVANmoved for—
Copies of any Charge or Complaint, if any, preferred against Mrs. Ellen Richardson, Deputy Matron of Mountjoy Female Prison, in reference to the circumstances stated by the Chief Secretary for Ireland to have been the reasons for removing her from the public service; of any Evidence taken at any investigation, if any was held, into the justice of any such charge or complaint against her; and, of any Correspondence on the subject between Mrs. Richardson and the Chief Secretary or Captain Barlow, or between the Chief Secretary and Captain Barlow.The hon. Member said, he had reason to believe that Mrs. Richardson had been dismissed without fault or investigation, and he contended that the circumstances had a public as well as a personal interest, inasmuch as they afforded an illustration of the evil of leaving these persons under a despotic authority which acted without the check of public criticism.
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That there he laid before this House, Copies of any Charge or Complaint, if any, preferred against Mrs. Ellen Richardson, Deputy Matron of Mountjoy Female Prison, in reference to the circumstances stated by the Chief Secretary for Ireland to have been the reasons for removing her from the public service:
Of any Evidence taken at any investigation, if any was held, into the justice of any such charge or complaint against her:
And, of any Correspondence on the subject between Mrs. Richardson and the Chief Secretary or Captain Barlow, or between the Chief Secretary and Captain Barlow."—(Mr. Sullivan.)
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, he thought it could be shown that 915 it was necessary to have the convict prisons of Ireland under a central authority, and that that authority had been exercised with good judgment and discretion. He could not agree to the Return for which the hon. Member moved, because it was unusual to print Minutes passing between two officials in the public service which were more or less of a confidential character, and as to the remainder of the correspondence, it consisted of little more than Mrs. Richardson's own letters. In September last an outbreak occurred in the prison of such a character as to show that the discipline had been lax, and for the circumstances that had led to this state of things Mrs. Richardson had been held to be in great measure blameable. Her duty was mainly to superintend the conduct of other prison officers; yet for the last 10 years only in one single instance had she reported any neglect of duty, though the state of the prison in September showed how much cause there must have been for such reports to be made. The Report from Captain Barlow was to the effect that the prison could not be properly worked while she held her office. It was true there was a medical inquiry into her health, not to call upon her to resign on account of ill health, but to ascertain whether her failure to perform her duty was, in any degree, due to this cause; and in consequence of her long services and personal character, he intended to recommend her for a moderate pension.
§ MR. MELDONrecommended that the Motion should be withdrawn and the matter left in the hands of the Chief Secretary.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Twelve o'clock.