§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Thomas Brennan, secretary to the Irish National Land League, arrested yesterday, has been imprisoned in the gaol of Naas; whether his medical attendant, Dr. J. E. Kenny, of Dublin, has made a protest against the selection of Naas gaol as a place of confinement for Mr. Brennan; and, whether the Government will order the removal of Mr. Brennan from Naas to Kilmainham, where he can receive from his own medical adviser the care which that gentleman considers essential for the preservation of his health?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, I must answer the first part of the Question in the affirmative. With respect to the second, I am not aware of such a protest having been made. With respect to the last, I may say that we should, of course, consider any grounds of application made to us for the purpose, if we believed that any particular gaol was unhealthy, and direct a strict investigation for that purpose. We do not admit, however, that prisoners should be at liberty to choose their place of confinement in order that they may be near any particular doctor.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the chaplain of Naas gaol is the president of the local branch of the Land League; and, whether the knowledge of that fact influenced the Government in selecting that particular prison for the detention of prisoners under the Coercion Act?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI am not aware of the fact stated by the noble Lord; and I think no one will imagine that the gaol in question would be selected for such a reason but the noble Lord.