§ MR. SEXTONBefore I ask Question 27, which stands next on the Paper, I wish to say that in consequence of the unsatisfactory and evasive reply which I received to Question 12, which related to the accommodation of Crown witnesses in Dublin, I shall pursue the inquiry from day to day until I get a direct reply.
§ MR. TREVELYANI am sorry that the hon. Member thinks my answer evasive. Perhaps the hon. Member will tell me on what point it was evasive. If so, perhaps I have the information he requires.
§ MR. SEXTONI shall question the right hon. Gentleman further as to what steps have been taken to stop the scandalous state of things in which seven persons are obliged to sleep on one palliasse; and also what steps are being taken to ascertain whether the public money has been embezzled; and what agents of the Crown are responsible for the indecency of the state of things described in my Question, and whether they will be punished?
§ MR. TREVELYANSeveral of these Questions are new.
§ MR. SEXTONNot one of them.
§ MR. TREVELYANThe agents of the Crown in this matter were the Constabulary, and there is no reason to suppose that any of the public money has been embezzled. The money grant for the maintenance of Crown witnesses is defrayed out of the Vote for Law Charges, and is disbursed through the Constabulary officers for the district. The two houses in which the witnesses were lodged were in charge of a con- 1926 stable, who himself lived in one of them; and, in point of fact, the arrangements made for the sleeping accommodation of the witnesses were made in accordance with the wishes of the heads of the families.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORMay I ask whether it was in accordance with the wishes of the heads of the families that seven persons were put to sleep in one room; or was it because there was not another room in the house?
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid that, as a matter of fact, there was another room in the house. The heads of the families were the father in one case, and the father and mother in another, and they made the arrangements for the sleeping. It was revealed at the trial that the people were accustomed to very miserable accommodation; and, as a matter of fact, it was in accordance with their wishes that they slept in one room.
§ MR. SEXTONIs it contemplated, that when a grant of money is given by the country for the maintenance of Crown witnesses seven witnesses should be obliged to sleep in one room; and, if not, how is the money expended?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe answer to that is that there was another room.