HC Deb 03 May 1881 vol 260 cc1654-5
MR. W. J. CORBET

asked the Secretary of State for War, What has been the result of the inquiry held regarding the alleged cruelties practised towards the boys of the Royal Hibernian Military School; and, whether he has any objection to lay the Report upon the Table?

MR. GIBSON

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in answering this Question, be also good enough to state whether the Report has been submitted to the Lord Lieutenant and the Governors of the School?

MR. CHILDERS

In reply to the Question put to me by the hon. Member, and also by the right hon. and learned Gentleman, I have to say that since my former answer to a similar inquiry I have received and carefully considered the Report of the Committee appointed by Sir Thomas Steele, the facts disclosed in which revealed a very unsatisfactory state of things. The Report has since been transmitted to the President of the Corporation (the Lord Lieutenant), with a request that the Governors will furnish me with any remarks on the facts so disclosed; and when I receive their reply I shall deal with it. I doubt whether it will be necessary to lay the Report, which is a very bulky document, on the Table.