§ DR. COMMINSasked, Whether Michael Gibbons, Patrick Gibbons, and John L. Gannon, arrested in the county Roscommon, on the 7th of May 1881, as suspects of assembling for the purpose of disturbing the public peace, are still detained, although Thomas Gibbons, arrested at the same time and on the same charge, has been long since liberated; whether there is any, and what, difference, between his (Thomas Gibbons') case and theirs; and whether it is a fact that no agrarian crime or outrage of any kind has been, cither for many months before or since, committed in the district in which these men lived?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, Michael and Patrick Gibbons and John L. Gannon are still detained. Thomas Gibbons was discharged principally on account of his age. With regard to the latter part of the Question, in this district agrarian and other outrages have been committed both before and since the arrests. On the 6th of January last a mob of 50 persons attacked a police patrol and succeeded in carrying off one of their rifles.
§ DR. COMMINSasked, Whether the alleged intimidating persons from paying rent, assigned as the cause of the arrest of John P. Hayden and George F. Fannon in Roscommon on the 8th ultimo, consisted in their canvassing the ratepayers in favour of the re-election as Poor Law Guardians of Roscommon Union, of two candidates, Messrs. Nond and Burke, at present imprisoned suspects; whether the arrest was made between twelve and one o'clock in the morning, although the warrants had been laying some time with the police authorities; whether the prisons of Monaghan and Omagh, to which they were removed, were the two prisons farthest removed from Roscommon and the most inconvenient of access; whether the authorities were aware, when removing Mr. Hayden to the latter, that the Governor had only a few days before died of fever, produced by its bad sanitary condition; and, whether the Government are aware that Mr. Hayden has been acting for his brother, Mr. Luke P. Hayden, the 176 editor and proprietor of the "Roscommon Messenger," who has for nearly five months been imprisoned as a suspect in Gal way Prison, and that the detention of both brothers under the circumstances practically precludes them from. taking any part in the management of the paper?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, in reply to the first inquiry in this Question, I must remind the hon. Member that it has been repeatedly announced in this House, and for very obvious reasons, that the circumstances causing arrest will not be stated; and I fear I am infringing on that principle in even saying that these persons were not arrested for the cause suggested in this inquiry. As to the other inquiries in the Question, the arrests were made at about midnight, in order to avoid excitement and as the train left in an hour afterwards. The warrants were not for some time lying with the police; they were dated the 7th of February, and the unfortunate death of the Governor of Omagh Prison did not occur until the following day. Monaghan and Omagh Prisons are not the most remote from Roscommon, nor the most inconvenient of access. I am informed that the Government were aware that Mr. John Hayden is brother of Mr. Luke Hayden and acting for him in reference to the paper referred to.
§ MR. REDMONDasked, If it is a fact that Mr. Francis Campbell, on making application in the ordinary way to visit some of the suspects in Armagh. Gaol, on the 16th February last, was refused admission and informed that no one living either in the county of Armagh or of Tyrone would be allowed in; and, if so, whether the authorities of the Gaol were acting in accordance with his instructions?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, the facts are as stated in the Question. The reason was that small-pox of a very virulent character was prevalent in the district; and the medical officer, with the view of protecting the prisoners from the danger of infection, deemed it necessary, with the sanction of the prison authorities, to give directions that, until further order, no person residing in the district should be admitted into the prison.
§ MR. LEAMYinquired if the right lion, and learned Gentleman meant to say that small-pox existed in the entire of the two counties?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Unhappily, it exists both in the counties of Armagh and Tyrone; but I am unable to say in what portions.