§ MR. DALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that, whilst Mr. E. Hodnett, of county of Cork, and Chairman of the Board of Guardians of Schull Union, a prisoner under the Protection of Person and Property (Ireland) Act since 5th April, 1881, was, on the 4th February, 1882, being conveyed from Cork Prison to Naas Prison in custody of Constable Whelan and two sub-constables, and escorted by Mr. Purcell and about twenty Lancers, he was by Mr. Purcell ordered to be handcuffed at 630 New Bridge, county Kildare; whether it is true that this command was executed with such violence as to cause a scar on Mr. Hodnett's left wrist; whether it is true that Mr. Hodnett was ordered to be handcuffed for having raised his hat in acknowledgment of the salutes of some lady friends; and, whether the Protection of Person and Property (Ireland) Act contains any provisions debarring persons arrested under it from acknowledging the salutes of their friends?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that, while the prisoner was being conveyed to gaol, the escort was surrounded by a mob, and it was supposed that an attempt would be made to rescue the prisoner. Mr. Purcell was in command, and he gave orders to the police to handcuff the prisoner. But that was not done, as the prisoner's hands were too small for the handcuffs. Therefore, the statement that the prisoner was handcuffed with violence was quite unfounded.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, that was rather a question for the Law Officers than for himself; but he thought that the person in command of the escort might take such steps as would prevent an escape of the prisoner.