HC Deb 09 March 1883 vol 276 cc1896-7
MR. O'BRIEN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. John O'Brien, T. C. Cork, Mr. James Gilhooly, Bantry, and Mr. Hodnett, of Ballydehob, at present undergoing imprisonment in Cork Gaol for words spoken at a public meeting in Bantry, are subject to the treatment prescribed for common criminals; and, if so, whether he will advise that the relaxations allowed in the case of Mr. T. Harrington, M.P., should be extended to those gentlemen? He also wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he had received a copy of the following resolution passed by the Cork Town Council that day:— That, having regard to the reported treatment of Mr. John O'Brien, now in prison on a charge under the Crimes Act, we are of opinion that same should he mitigated, and that we would urge on Her Majesty's Government the difficulties which such treatment, in cases like his, create in the way of the restoration of peace, conciliation, and good feeling in the country. Have forwarded a copy to the Chief Secretary?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, I have received, within the last three or four minutes, a telegram from the Mayor of Cork, which, as far as I can gather from what the hon. Member read, is the same as that which he read to the House. The persons mentioned in the Question are treated according to the rules as ordinary prisoners sentenced to imprisonment, only with such relaxations as the medical officer recommends should be made. The Lord Lieutenant asked for my advice on the question; and it is under consideration whether any relaxation in their case should be made.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

asked, "Whether this Mr. Hodnett was not the father of the young man just arrested for having placed a packet of dynamite addressed to the Lord Lieutenant in the post-office at Ballydehob?

MR. TREVELYAN,

in reply, said, he had had no time to inquire into the matter. He had merely seen a statement in the newspapers as to the alleged relationship.