§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON)(for Dr. KENNY) (Cork, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Dr. James Barr, at present attending the Mitchelstown inquest as a witness on behalf of the Irish Prisons Board, holds any office under the Home Office; if so, what is the office; is he the same medical man who visited the political prisoners in Tullamore Gaol last winter; if so, by whose direction did he visit them; did he make any Report of the result of his visit to the Irish Authorities; and, if he did, will the right hon. Gentleman produce his Report for the information of the House; did he visit other gaols in Ireland and make Reports thereon; and, if so, will those Reports also be produced; is he the same person who, representing himself as a medical man, recently visited Mr. John Dillon in Dundalk Gaol; if so, by whose direction did he make the visit and for what purpose, and what Report, if any, has he made of his visit; did he refuse to give his name to Mr. John Dillon when demanding that the hon. Member should submit himself to his examination; did Mr. Dillon refuse to submit to such examination unless furnished with some credentials by his visitor; and, was it by the instructions of the Government that Dr. Barr desired to keep his name and purposes secret?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)Dr. Barr is medical officer of Kirkdale Prison, Liverpool. He visited prisoners convicted under the Crimes Act in Tulla- 548 more last year by direction of the Government. He did make a Report upon the subject. As at present advised, I do not propose to lay these Reports upon the Table. Such a course would be contrary to universal practice, and might form a very undesirable precedent. He visited, in addition to Tullamore, Limerick, Clonmel, Cork, Wexford, and Londonderry Prisons. By the order of the Government he recently visited Mr. John Dillon. I am not aware whether he refused his name. Mr. Dillon did decline to submit to examination.
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)Will the right hon. Gentleman say why he did not send an Irish medical man on this mission, and not cast a suspicion and a slur on a body of honourable men?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he is unable to answer the portion of the Question which states that Dr. Barr refused to give his name to Mr. Dillon?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have not got any information on the subject. If the hon. Gentleman thinks the matter important he can put a Question down.