HC Deb 31 March 1882 vol 268 cc482-3
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Thomas Brennan was suddenly removed, a few days since, from Kilmainham to Naas Prison, after an imprisonment in the former place for a period not far short of a year, many months of which he had spent in the infirmary of the Prison, where he was at the time of the order for his removal; whether the removal of Mr. Brennan was so suddenly executed as to prevent him from seeing, before his departure, his regular medical adviser, Dr. J. E. Kenny; and, whether the removal to Naas cuts Mr. Brennan off from Dr. Kenny's care; whether Mr. Brennan has been for some months in a precarious state of health; whether he will lay upon the Table Copies of the Report on Mr. Brennan's condition, made by Dr. Robert MacDonnel about three months ago, and, since then, by Dr. Carte, the official medical attendant at Kilmainham Prison; and, whether any reason can be assigned for the removal of Mr. Brennan, in his dangerous state of health, from a prison, in which his own medical adviser had daily access to him, to one in which he is totally deprived of the exercise of that gentleman's skill and care?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

, in reply, said, that Thomas Brennan had not been removed to Naas Gaol, but to Kilkenny. It was not the fact that he had been so suddenly removed as to prevent his having been seen by a doctor before he left. He was informed two days before of his intended removal, and, in accordance with his wish, Dr. Kenny saw him before he was removed. Dr. Carte also saw him. Thomas Brennan was in his ordinary health, and for some time back no reasonable complaint had been made on the ground of ill-health. Instead of the change being dangerous to Mr. Brennan, it was thought it would be beneficial. He did not consider he was called upon to lay upon the Table the certificate of the doctor.

MR. SEXTON

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will tell the House why Mr. Brennan was removed to Kilkenny?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

said, the reason Mr. Brennan was removed to Kilkenny was that the Executive found it necessary to secure the safe-keeping of the prisoners; and also to prevent their carrying on practices for which it had been found necessary to detain them, and to prevent them carrying on communication with outside parties.

MR. SEXTON

gave Notice that he would move for Papers bearing on this question.