§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that, since Mary borough Gaol has been converted into a convict prison, the work of the staff has been very much increased; whether there are eight warders now receiving only local warders' salary, but compelled to do duty as convict warders; whether it is a fact that the warders are not allowed Sunday leave; whether two warders resigned, and two more were discharged, on medical grounds, as unable to perform the excessive work now imposed on them; whether John Gorman died of typhoid fever on the 27th October, and the chief warder and three ordinary warders are now dangerously ill, two in the County Infirmary, and two in their own homes, owing to the excessive confinement; and, whether the warders have not been subjected to an unusual number of assaults by the convicts "bordering on insanity," whom they are not numerous enough properly to control?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe General Prisons Board report to me that it is not a fact that since Mary-borough Prison has been converted into a convict prison the work of the staff has been very much increased, and they explain the circumstances which may have given rise to the suggestions in the other parts of the Question. It is only in case of emergency, caused by absence of warders or otherwise, that local warders are occasionally called on to assist in the convict part of the prison. All warders are allowed their proper portion of partial or entire Sunday leave (partial every Sunday, entire one in six), except when absences on leave or through illness prevent. It is not a fact that two warders have resigned owing to excessive 1364 work. In a number of years only one has resigned, and he did so a few days after joining the service. It is not a fact that two warders have been invalided owing to excessive work. Warder Gorman, who died recently, did not usually sleep or take his meals in the prison, but with his family in the town. Two warders are at present convalescent in the fever hospital, and two in their quarters in the prison. The medical officer states that their illness was not caused by confinement in the prison. As, however, it appears from this statement that there have been five cases of fever among the warders, I shall ask for a further special Report as to whether there can be any illness attributed to defects in the building. There have been no serious assaults in the prison; and the Prisons Board report that the staff is quite sufficient to control the prisoners.