§ MR. HARRINGTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 189 Whether his attention has been called to the newspaper reports of inquests held in Cork Gaol on 10th January into the circumstances touching the death of a prisoner named Timothy Mahony, who had been twelve months in prison; and, on 22nd December, on the body of a man named Horgan, who had been three weeks in prison; whether, at the latter inquest, the coroner stated that he invariably found at inquests in Cork Gaol that the prisoner had been removed to hospital only a few hours before his death; whether the evidence of the medical officer and governor of the prison confirmed this statement; whether it is true that Horgan, though seeking medical assistance on the 9th January, was kept to the treadmill until the 18th, and kept on the plank bed until the 20th, the day before his death; whether he is aware that the medical officer of the prison deposed at the inquest that Horgan was "an active, strong, muscular man when he entered the prison;" whether it is true, as stated by the coroner, that Mr. Roberts, the governor of the prison, in apprising the authorities of Morgan's death, addressed a letter to the sub-inspector of Constabulary, commencing "My dear Newell," and asking him to direct the sergeant to be careful in the selection of the jury; and, whether it is the intention of the Lord Lieutenant to hold an inquiry into these facts; and, if so, whether the friends of the prisoners will have an opportunity of being present or being represented thereat?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe newspaper reports referred to were brought to my notice, and I directed inquiries to be made on the subject. With respect to the allegations that deceased prisoners had been invariably found to have been removed to hospital only a few hours before death, I am informed that inquiry shows that no such circumstance has occurred in Cork Prison during the past six years, the period for which the records have been examined. It seems, therefore, impossible that the Governor or medical officer could have confirmed such a statement. The prisoner Mahony, named in the Question, was in hospital three days before his death, which is believed to have been caused by the bursting of a tumour. He had not been on the plank bed for 11 months, and he had never been at penal labour. He was treated with great care and attention 190 —two doctors of the highest standing in Cork having been called in to see him in consultation. The prisoner Horgan received medical attention whenever he asked for it. The medical officer did not see any necessity for exempting him from the plank bed or penal labour. He was, however, only three times on the treadmill during his imprisonment. He was two days in hospital before his death. It is true that the doctor stated that he was in good health when committed; but it has transpired that he had received some rough usage prior to his committal to prison, and had complained at home of internal injuries. It is to be regretted that this matter was not inquired into at the inquest. [Mr. HARRINGTON: The special jury.] I regret that the Coroner did not go into the question of the injuries which he received from the hands of private persons before he was committed to prison. I have communicated to His Excellency the circumstances of this case, some of which would appear to require investigation. In this case there appeal's to have been some slight irregularity. [Mr. HARRINGTON: "Slight" irregularity.] I think I am justified in calling it a "slight" irregularity. The doctor recommended him not to be put on the treadmill, which is always considered to be a severe sort of hard labour, but at shot drill. The warder omitted in this case to follow the recommendation of the doctor, and allowed him to go on the treadmill three times. That is the matter to which I have referred, and which is a matter which requires closer inquiry. The letter of the Governor referred to in the Question was written in consequence of what had occurred on a former occasion, when a person who had recently been in custody on a criminal charge had been sworn on a Coroner's Jury, and had behaved very improperly. I am in communication with His Excellency as to whether the circumstances call for any further inquiry.
§ MR. HARRINGTONArising out of what the right hon. Gentleman has said in answer to the Question, might I ask him if the Governor wrote a letter to the Sub-Inspector, addressed "My dear Newell," asking him to direct the sergeant to be careful in summoning the jury; and also whether the Governor had at previous inquests upon prisoners declined to attend at the request of the 191 Coroner; also, might I ask whether the prisoner Horgan was on the treadmill on the 18th, although he was under medical consideration on the 9th of December; whether it was after fainting in the chapel on the 21st he was removed to hospital, and died on the 22nd?
§ [No reply was given.]