HC Deb 18 June 1888 vol 327 cc436-7
MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following in The Daily News:— At Falcarragh yesterday four prisoners were remanded for the fourth time to Derry Gaol for seven days for refusing to give evidence. An old man named Shane O'Donnell fainted on his third journey from gaol. He was with great difficulty resuscitated, and was eventually discharged; how long has O'Donnell been in prison altogether; and, has he been charged with, or convicted of, any crime?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

The District Inspector of Constabulary reports that The Daily News' allegation that O'Donnell fainted is untrue. On the contrary, he was perfectly well during the entire journey. O'Donnell can hardly be described as an old man. His age is 64. He was first committed to prison on the 24th of May, and brought up on two subsequent occasions on remand, and finally discharged on the 13th of June, There were no previous convictions against him.

MR. W. REDMOND

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the alleged offence on which he was discharged?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he would require Notice of that Question.

MR. W. REDMOND

May I point out that the right hon. Gentleman has failed to answer that portion of the Question in which I inquired how long O'Donnell was in prison, and if he was convicted of any crime, or charged with any crime, and that the right hon. Gentleman said there was no previous conviction.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Certainly he was committed for an offence—of refusing to answer a question that he could have answered. With regard to the other Question of the hon. Member, I stated that he was committed on the 24th of May, and finally discharged on the 13th of June.

MR. W. REDMOND

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, upon what ground he makes the allegation that the man was committed to prison for not answering a question which he could have answered? How does the right hon. Gentleman know that the man could have answered the question or not? What evidence was there to show that he could have answered it?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, the Resident Magistrate so held from the facts of the case.