HC Deb 20 April 1882 vol 268 cc1031-2
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the case that 22 suspects have been transferred from Clonmel Gaol to Naas, owing to fever having broken out in the former Gaol; and, whether one of the prisoners so transferred has now been taken ill; and, if so, what is the nature of the disease?

MR. W. E. FORSTER,

in reply, said, it was true that 22 persons, confined under the Protection Act, were transferred from Clonmel to Naas Gaol. Fever broke out in Clonmel Gaol some time ago, and although there had been no case of fever in that prison for three weeks previously, it was thought better that the prisoners should be transferred. One of the prisoners so transferred had a feverish cold a day or two ago, but the two medical officers came to the conclusion that it was not fever. The man was now better.

MR. W. J. CORBET

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact, as stated in the telegrams, that the political prisoners have been removed from Clonmel Gaol, on account of the prevalence there of fever, to the gaol at Naas, where no fever exists, bringing the infection with them; that the Naas prisoners refused to enter into the cells, and that the military were called in to compel them amid great excitement; and, whether he sanctioned this exercise of power by the military force to compel uninfected prisoners confined on mere suspicion to mix with prisoners from an infected gaol?

MR. W. E. FORSTER,

in reply, said, that it was true that these prisoners refused to return to their cells, and the Governor, after a good deal of remonstrance, found it necessary to obtain the assistance of 50 soldiers and a force of police to compel them to return to their cells. MR. W. J. CORBET asked whether it was not possible to transfer those prisoners to any other prison?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

said, there was no reason to believe the man had taken fever in Clonmel. They had got the idea into their heads, perhaps not unnaturally, and they acted with insubordination, which had to be put a stop to. There was every reason to believe there was no foundation for it.