§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it the fact that the Government have refused to allow the Crossmaglen prisoners to read the memorial addressed to the Viceroy, setting forth facts in reference to their trial; and, that their friends consider it necessary that the prisoners should have an opportunity of seeing the memorial in order that they may supplement it by facts within their knowledge?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANWhat has happened is this. Mr. Alfred Webb memorialized the Lord Lieutenant in favour of these prisoners, and His Excellency, on full consideration, was unable to accede to his request. Mr. Webb then applied to the Prisons Board for permission to send a copy of the Memorial to each of the prisoners, in order that they might see what had been urged on their behalf; but the Board considered that to grant such a request would be contrary to prison 133 rules, and they so replied. The Board point out that prisoners can at certain periods see their friends, and urge any points which they may desire to lay before the Government. They can also memorialize the Lord Lieutenant at any time.
§ MR. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is the practice in England in the case where there is a belief in the innocence of prisoners, and where there is a doubt as to whether the facts are fully stated in a Memorial for their release, for objection to be taken to laying that Memorial before the prisoners in order, where necessary, to supplement it by facts within their own knowledge?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI should not like to answer that Question off-hand.