HC Deb 11 November 1884 vol 293 cc1461-2
MR. O'BRIEN (for Mr. HEALY)

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whe- ther the dying depositions of the two men executed with Myles Joyce were taken by and before a resident magistrate; whether each deposition was made independently by each of the condemned men in his own cell without any knowledge or communication of what the other had said or done; and, whether any copies of the depositions have been made, in whose custody do the originals remain?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)

There were no "depositions" taken; but statements of the two men referred to were made before a Resident Magistrate. They are in the custody of the Irish Government, and will remain there. As the Government have declined, for reasons already fully stated, to produce those statements, I must respectfully decline to give any further information regarding them.

MR. MITCHELL HENRY

Are we to understand that these depositions were sworn depositions?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)

On the contrary, I have conveyed that they were not sworn.

MR. O'BRIEN

Might I point out to the hon. and learned Gentleman that he has not answered the most important portion of my Question—whether each of the depositions was made independently by each of the condemned men in his own cell without any knowledge or communication of what others had said or done?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)

I have answered all that I could consistently with the statements already made, and as far as the Irish Government are prepared to answer.