§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Rev. Daniel Stephens, an untried prisoner detained on remand in Derry Gaol, asked to have his dinner supplied from Roddy's Hotel on his arrival after his long journey from Falcarragh to Derry; whether the order was carried out by the hotel keeper, and the dinner duly received by a warder in the prison; whether the dinner was shortly afterwards returned by order of the Governor, or other superior official acting for him; and, whether he can state the grounds on which this refusal was based?
§ * THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The General Prisons Board report that it is the case that the Governor of Londonderry Prison refused to allow the dinner sent from the hotel named to be supplied on the occasion in question. 1117 The further supply of provisions from this hotel had been prohibited by the Visiting Committee in August last, in the case of the Rev. James McFadden, in consequence of there having been collusion between him and those sent with his meals from the hotel, whereby he was enabled to evade the Prison Rules in sending out surreptitiously communications from the Prison. The Governor in the exercise of his discretion extended the prohibition to this case.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government approve of the action of the Governor, and whether they will give the hotel keeper any opportunity of rebutting the charge made against him, which I understand that the hotel keeper indignantly denies? I would also like to know what course will be pursued in similar cases hereafter?
§ * MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no doubt that the Governor will exercise the discretion given to him.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYintimated that he would call attention to the matter upon the Estimates.