§ MR. HOOPER (Cork, S.E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in the month of October, a lad named Griffin, from the Ballinspittle Petty Sessions District of County Cork, was confined in Cork male prison; what was his offence, and what was his age; whether he was confined to hospital for any period; whether he had for companions in the same hospital room two adult prisoners; whether one of these had been removed from the ordinary cells some days previously because of his indecent language; whether it was found impossible to compel him to desist from his obscenity until he was strapped up in a punishment cell in what are called handmuffs; and, whether he will issue directions to prevent the association of men of such a character with young lads in the future?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)(who replied) said: The General Prisons Board report that the reply to the first paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative. The offence was holding forcible possession. The lad's age is 15. It is the case that he was removed by order of the medical officer to an association ward in the hospital, whore there were two adult patients; but it is not the case that either of these adults had been removed there from his ordinary cell because of indecent language, nor was either punished for or guilty of any obscenity while in the ward.
§ MR. HOOPERDoes the hon. and learned Gentleman mean to say that one of these men was not punished anywhere in the prison for using indecent language?
§ MR. MADDENMy information is that such was not the fact.