§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether the prisoners at present confined in Nenagh Gaol on a charge of illegal and riotous assembly, are persons entitled to be treated as "persons accused of crime and not as convicted prisoners," are not prevented from intercourse with each other, and whether in fact they are not confined in their cells in solitary confinement for twenty-two hours out of the twenty-four?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)These prisoners are not allowed to communicate with each other. They are allowed two hours a-day for exercise. Under the prison rules it is the duty of the surgeon to direct that every prisoner shall daily have as much exercise in the open air as may he necessary for his health.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked whether they were not kept in solitary confinement for 22 hours out of the 24?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)They have two hours a-day for exercise. I presume they are not allowed to communicate; but they can see their friends.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked whether they were not prevented from communicating on the ground that they might contaminate each other, though they were respectable young men of the town? ["Order!"]
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)I would refer the hon. Member to the prison rules.