MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return of persons detained in prison in Ireland without trial for alleged refusal to answer questions put to them during secret magisterial inquiries in Dublin Castle and elsewhere, together with Copies of the questions which these witnesses declined to answer, and of any Statement made 615 by them in explanation of their refusal?
§ MR. TREVELYANThree persons were committed in Dublin under the circumstances alluded to in the Question —namely, Timothy Kelly for one day, Christopher Flynn for seven clays, and John Taaffe for seven days. The two latter have been discharged. Kelly is now in custody upon another and more serious charge. One man, Michael M'Bride, was committed for 14 days in Londonderry. He also has been discharged. In addition to these I believe there was one other case, in connection with the Crossmaglen conspiracy, the particulars of which I have not at present before me. I do not think I need furnish any further Return of the names of the parties imprisoned unless the hon. Member presses for it. I cannot undertake to lay on the Table a Return of the questions which the witnesses refused to answer.
MR. O'BRIENWill the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to inform the House for what reason an official shorthand writer is not present during the whole of these examinations of witnesses; or why, having been admitted to portions of these examinations, they should be excluded from other portions?
§ MR. TREVELYANWell, Sir, I must leave hon. Members to conjecture for themselves why certain parts of the proceedings are conducted in private.