HC Deb 23 May 1881 vol 261 cc1077-9
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that the honourable Member for Tipperary has returned from the infirmary in Kilmainham Prison to an ordinary cell, in consequence of the fact that the authorities of the prison put other persons to occupy and sleep in the room at first allotted to Mr. Dillon solely, and that under these circumstances he could not procure needful sleep; and, whether, in view of the delicacy of Mr. Dillon's constitution and the precarious state of his health, the Government will give him for his sole occupation a room in a suitable portion of the prison? He also wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, owing to the fact that there is but one cell provided in Kilmainham Prison for interviews between persons detained there and visitors, and that only one visitor is admitted to the prison at one time, it is impossible for more than twenty-four of the prisoners to receive visits on any day within the specified hours; and, whether, as the number of persons now detained in Kilmainham is much larger than the number capable of receiving visits under the present system, and as visitors are put to the inconvenience of long delays, and persons detained are deprived of the exercise of the right to receive a daily visit, a right ostensibly secured to them by the rules, the Government will take steps by increasing the number of visiting cells or otherwise, to secure that each person entitled to a daily visit shall be actually in a position to receive it?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, I am informed that the reason why Mr. Dillon wished to be taken back to his cell is not that stated by the hon. Member. There are three visiting cells at Kilmainham, and it is not the fact that one visitor only is admitted at a time. Fifty or 60 visits may take place daily.

MR. SEXTON

Will a room be set apart for Mr. Dillon's use?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

If the hon. Gentleman will give me sufficient Notice I will inform him of the position of affairs in that respect.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

Would the right hon. Gentleman inform the House how many hours on an average the hon. Member for Tipperary is compelled to remain in his cell alone?

MR. PARNELL

I wish to point out to the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant that my hon. Friend the Member for Sligo (Mr. Sexton) has already given Notice of the Question of which the right hon. Gentleman now requires further Notice.

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I can give no answer to that Question until I know what representations Mr. Dillon himself has made to the directors of the prison, and what their reply has been upon the subject. The Government will give every reasonable attention to such representations as Mr. Dillon himself may make, but they must be representations made by him.

SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA

I think there is more in this case than seems to be imagined. I think, Sir, it is absolutely necessary that we should be satisfied upon this point—that the hon. Member who is now in prison in Kilmainham shall not suffer more inconvenience or greater hardship than if he had been in prison in this House for contempt of the Orders of this House. The hon. Member has a right to be here under ordinary circumstances. He should be here taking part in the debates in this House; but we know that he is in prison, not because there is any charge against him, but because he is suspected. I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give the House an assurance that the hon. Member shall not be subjected to greater hardship than if he had been a prisoner in this House for a contempt of its Orders?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, I think I have already given an answer which applies to one part of the Question of the hon. Member. Mr. Dillon will certainly be subjected to no cruelty, and, as I have said, every attention will be paid to any representations he himself may make to the prison authorities.