§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it a fact that a police constable named Nicholson, last stationed at Templemore, county Tipperary, was recently 612 discharged from the force, after a period of twelve years' service, holding for six years of such service the rank of constable on a superannuation allowance of £72 6s. od. in full; whether the constant medical attendants of such constable, Doctors Halpin of Wicklow and Meagher of Templemore were of opinion that the policeman's inability to perform further duty was entirely and solely owing to weakness and ill-health caused by the wound of a knife inflicted on him by a prisoner who he was arresting about nine years since, in county Wicklow, and when he almost bled to death, and, under those circumstances, is not such a constable accordingly entitled to a permanent pension equal to his full pay; whether the police authorities submitted the constable to a medical examination by two military doctors in Dublin, and paid by the Government, who certified that the man suffered from consumption; and, if he will direct an inquiry into this man's case, as such decision is against the opinion of two other duly qualified medical practitioners, Doctors Halpin and Meagher, who certified differently?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)Sir, William Nicholson was discharged from the Constabulary on the 31st of July, receiving a gratuity of £72 16s., after a period of 12 years' service, during four years and three months of which he held the rank of constable. In November, 1872, Nicholson received a stab in the arm from a prisoner whom he had in charge; and the Constabulary medical attendant, Dr. Halpin, who attended him for the wound, states that he apprehended the constable might have paralysis of the arm at some future period. In March last the constable became ill, and the medical attendant, Dr. Russell, under whose care he had been for upwards of two years, stated—
With reference to the wound received by Constable Nicholson in 1872, I cannot trace any connection between it and his present illness.The constable went on sick leave, and was under the care of Dr. Meagher for about a month, who certified that the man was suffering from "bronchial hæmorrhage, vertigo, paralysis of the right arm, and general debility," and that his illness was the result of the wound received in 1872. The constable appeared before the Military Medical 613 Board, which was composed of three doctors, on the 27th of June last, the doctors being Thomas Tarrant, M.D., Brigade Surgeon, Army Medical Department; E. Hickson, M.D. Surgeon Major, Army Medical Department; and James Reynolds, V. C., Surgeon Major, Army Medical Department, who gave the following certificate:—Constable Nicholson is incapable, in consequence of consumption, from discharging his duties. Although a cicatrix of wound appears on right forearm, the Board are of opinion there is no connection between it and his disease.Under those circumstances, pursuant to the Act 37 & 38 Vict., c. 80, the Pension Board could only recommend the constable the full gratuity to which his length of service entitled him. I see no necessity for further inquiry.