§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he will state under what order of a Court of Law Thomas Tracy was removed from Belfast Gaol to Millbank Prison, where he still remains; for what purpose Tracy was previously removed from Castlebar to Belfast Gaol; when, and on what charge, Tracy was convicted, and what sentence was passed upon him; whether, during his imprisonment in Belfast, he was daily supplied with dinners of the first quality, and also with beer or porter, and by whom same were supplied; whether the Freeman's Journal was sent him daily from a local police barrack; whether County Inspector Heard, and District Inspector Gibbons, or any other officer of police, paid several visits to him there, and saw him without the presence of a warder; whether he is aware that Tracy alleges these officers of police promised him his liberty if he 830 would swear against an Irish Nationalist Member of Parliament, and a certain priest in connection with a murder in the West of Ireland; whether, on his refusal to swear what he knew to be false, Tracy was threatened with imprisonment for life; whether Head Constable Preston, or any other constable, told Tracy on his way to Belfast that he was wanted as a witness for the Parnell Commission, gave him money, and said that he would be visited in Belfast Gaol by gentlemen, who would tell him what he was wanted to swear; and whether, under the circumstances, he will grant an independent inquiry into these serious charges made by Tracy?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.1. I am informed that the man referred to was brought over to England under an order from the Special Commission Court. 2. While this man was in Castlebar Prison it was publicly announced in a local Roman Catholic Chapel that he had turned informer, and there was also reliable information that he was being tampered with to prevent him from giving information. He was accordingly removed to Belfast. 3. He was committed to prison for 12 months on the 16th of August, 1888, in default of finding sureties to be of good behaviour, for having made use of threatening language towards one Patrick Connors. 4 and 5. I understand that he was treated like other bail prisoners. 6. County Inspector Head did not visit this man, but he was visited by County Inspector Milling and District Inspector Gibbons, both in Castlebar and Belfast Prisons, in consequence of the man's having previously disclosed important information with reference to serious crimes, which it was the duty of these officers to investigate. No warder was present.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)How did it happen that the solicitor to this man several times applied to the Irish Prisons Board to be allowed to see him and was refused, and is it true that access has been permitted to certain police officers transferred by the Government to the service of the Times? I also wish to know whether, in view of the grave allegations contained in the Question of my hon. Friend that this man was promised his liberty by certain police 831 officers if he would swear against an Irish Nationalist Member; that he was wanted as a witness for the Parnell Commission, and that he would be visited by a gentleman who would tell him what he was wanted to swear, and that on his refusal to swear he was threatened with imprisonment for life; the Chief Secretary will be content to allow the allegations to rest upon the denial of the persons incriminated?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI believe these allegations to be untrue, but as the man is to appear before the Special Commission an opportunity will be afforded of ascertaining all the facts.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say why the solicitor to the prisoner was refused admission to him, while free admission was given to the Times emissary?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am not aware that such was the fact. There is no suggestion of the kind in the Question.
§ MR. M'CARTANThe right hon. Gentleman did not answer paragraphs four and five of my question, namely, whether during Tracy's imprisonment in Belfast he was daily supplied with dinners of the first quality and also with beer or porter; by whom the same were supplied; and whether the Freeman's Journal was sent to him daily from a local police barracks?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI did answer he right hon. Gentleman. I stated hat I understood from the report of the Prisons Board that the prisoner was treated like all other bail-prisoners.