HC Deb 13 April 1885 vol 296 cc1454-6
MR. CALLAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of the statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when Chief Secretary, in this House on the 17th of June 1884, on the Motion for a— Select Committee to inquire into the conduct of the Government with regard to the criminal charges against James Ellis French, County Inspector and Detective Director, and others, to the effect— I think something may be said of the duty of those who are aware of these horrible crimes, or who think they are aware that these horrible crimes have been committed. These crimes are criminal matters deserving of criminal punishment, and when any person has evidence that such crimes have been committed, he should proceed against the persons who have committed them in the way the Law enjoins, that is, to lay information before a magistrate, whether the offenders he Government officials or not, Whether it is a fact that Colonel Bruce, the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, held an inquiry in the Castle, Dublin, into certain of the charges against his colleague, James Ellis French, with the result that the said James Ellis French was officially informed by Colonel Bruce that he should "not return to his office till called upon to do so," in other words, that he was suspended from duty; whether the evidence taken at that inquiry was laid before the Law Officers of the Crown for advice and direction, or its nature and effect, and suspension of J. E. French, communicated to His Ex- cellency the Lord Lieutenant or the Chief Secretary; whether Mr. John Mallon, the Chief Superintendent of the Detective Department of the Metropolitan Police, was instructed to prosecute further inquiry into the said charges; whether it is a fact that, at the inquiry so held by Colonel Bruce, District Inspector Maguire, of Limerick, was examined as to French's conduct towards his brother; whether District Inspector Bell, Athenry, in the course of his evidence at said inquiry made a statement with reference to charges made by his clerk against James E. Trench of solicitation to commit a felony; and, if so, whether Colonel Bruce took any and what steps to secure the evidence of the said police clerk; and, whether Colonel Bruce, instead of directing the prosecution of further inquiry into the matters disclosed at said inquiry, arising from which J. E. French was suspended from duty, on the contrary warned the District Inspectors so examined to suppress all mention of the matter, and not to divulge the fact that such an inquiry had been held?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

There are no grounds for any of the insinuations against the conduct of Colonel Bruce implied in this Question. I can only repeat that from first to last Colonel Bruce laid before the Government the result of the inquiries which he made, that the steps which he took were taken with the cognizance and approval of the Government, and that the Government assume the entire responsibility for the conduct of the case.

MR. CALLAN

Will the Chief Secretary answer this Question—Whether Mr. John Mallon, the Chief Superintendent of the Detective Department of the Metropolitan Police, was instructed to prosecute further into the said charges? Yes or no?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

If the hon. Member will repeat his Question on some future day I will reply to it.

MR. CALLAN

I have given 10 days' Notice of it, and I have once postponed it on the request conveyed to me by the right hon. Gentleman's Private Secretary.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I certainly am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for putting it off. This is a very particular point in a very long Question, and I have not in my possession accurate information upon it—

MR. CALLAN

Why have you not?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN

I have given general information in order to save the time of the House.