§ MR. HEALYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been 229 called to the fact that Mr. Corry Connellan has been since 1868 in receipt of a pension of £436 11s. 4d. per annum; whether this is the official who fled the Country; will he obtain an explanation of the fact that Mr. Connellan's name has been dropped out of this year's Estimates, and ensure its reinsertion if the pension is to be continued; and, can he say where Mr. Connellan now is, and to whom is the money paid?
§ MR. COURTNEY, in reply, said, he had been asked by the Prime Minister to answer the Question. There was no doubt as to the allegations in the first two paragraphs of the Question. He did not know where Mr. Connellan now was; but the pension was paid through the Bank of Ireland. As regarded the alterations in this year's Estimates, he had already explained to the hon. Member privately the reason for dropping out Mr. Connellan's name. It was wholly apart from any question as to the man's character, and was done with a view to the more compendious publication of the Estimate volume. It was open to the hon. Member to move the reduction of the Vote by the sum mentioned.
§ MR. HEALYIf the Government have no idea of where Corry Connellan is, and if they pay him only through the Bank of Ireland, what is to prevent this pension from being paid on to the end of time?
§ MR. COURTNEYsaid, the strictest measures were taken with regard to the life certificates in this case.
§ MR. HEALYgave Notice that he would move the reduction of the Estimates by the sum of £436 11s. 4d., paid by Her Majesty's Government for the last 15 years to a man who fled from the country for an unnatural offence.