§ MR. SEXTON (Sligo, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, on the morning of the 1st of January last, Patrick Aherne, a private in the Fusiliers, stationed at Belfast, was found at an early hour lying in the barrack square in a slate of insensibility; whether his teeth had been kicked out, his lip split in two, his ribs broken, and his skull fractured; whether he was carried to the Barrack Hospital, and left there with his wounds undressed and unattended to, until inquiries were made, two days after the occurrence, by Head Constable Tilson and another police officer; whether these officials were informed that nothing unusual had taken place in the barracks, and whether they learned only on the 5th or 6th of the same month, from the undertaker's man, that a soldier (Aherne) had died from the effects of violence; whether it is a fact that no inquest was held, that the dying man's depositions were not taken, and that the civil authority was not called in; and, whether the resident magistrates failed to perform their duty in not causing an investigation to be held, and what account they give of the case, and their course in reference to it?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne), in reply, said, that the story was rather a long one, but he would endeavour to make it as short as possible. At about half-past 2 o'clock on the morning of 1630 the 2nd of January last, Patrick Aherne was found in the barrack square, having received the injuries mentioned in the Question, except as to his skull, which was not fractured. He was carried to the barrack hospital, but the medical officer unfortunately was not sent for until 9.30 o'clock. For that delay the hospital sergeant appeared to have been responsible. It was a fact that in answer to an inquiry on the evening of the 2nd, the statement was made that "nothing unusual had taken place." On the 4th of January a military inquiry appeared to have been held. Several witnesses were examined, including Aherne himself, who was unable to identify his assailant, and no evidence could be obtained as to the person or persons who committed the assault. Aherne died on the 8th of January. Head Constable Tilson heard of the death from the undertaker, and then inquired at the barracks, where he was officially informed that the death had taken place. A Coroner's inquest was held on the 9th, which was attended by District Inspector Green, and medical evidence was taken. The District Inspector applied for an adjournment, and that adjournment the Coroner refused to grant. Several witnesses were examined, but no evidence was obtained as to who it was had committed the assault, and the jury ultimately found a verdict that death had been caused by injuries inflicted by some person or persons unknown. It was a fact, as stated in the Question, that Aherne's depositions were not taken, as the civil authorities had not been afforded an opportunity of doing so. The man was delirious from the 6th January. The Resident Magistrate subsequently held a private inquiry, to which he summoned all the witnesses who were supposed to know anything about the matter; but he could get no evidence to justify the prosecution of anyone. Having studied the full facts laid before him, he (Mr. John Morley) was bound to say that the course which the case appeared to have taken did not appear to have been satisfactory; but he had no reason to question the action of the civil authorities, who appeared to have done all in their power to clear up the case.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as this unfortunate soldier had contributed to the 1631 support of his widowed mother, having regard to that fact, the Government would give some compensation?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI was not aware of that circumstance.