MR. MAC NEILLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he could state why the two untried female prisoners from Gweedore—Margaret Cull and Annie Doherty—who were on Friday week—notwithstanding the remonstrance of the Rev. J. Doherty, the Prison Chaplain—deprived by the Governor of Derry Gaol of warm clothing provided for them for the journey between Derry and Letterkenny, were again deprived last Saturday of dresses and hats provided for them by friends; whether, in spite of the promise of the Solicitor General, the Governor, while allowing them shawls, refused to permit them to wear the hats and warm dresses so provided for them; and whether they were obliged to go from Derry to Letterkenny bareheaded and badly clothed in inclement weather, though sufficient clothing was sent into the prison for their use?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that the two prisoners mentioned were, on the occasion in question, amply provided with warm clothing and warm shawls over their heads—the usual head dress of the peasant women in Gweedore. The Governor withheld the clothing referred to, as, while not required for warmth, it was, in his opinion, calculated to interfere with the prisoners' identification. As I have already explained, the prisoners travelled neither bare-headed nor badly clothed, and it appears they were conveyed in a covered vehicle to the railway station at Derry, and then by train to Letter-kenny, returning in the same way. It is possible that the Governor may have made an error of judgment, but it is perfectly clear that every consideration of humanity was attended to, and ample provision was made for the comfort of the prisoners.
MR. MAC NEILLIs it the fact that the Governor did refuse to allow these poor women to wear the warm clothing with which their friends supplied them with? I should also like to know under what circumstances the Governor has power to interfere with untried prisoners in any way whatever?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have already answered the first part of the question. As to the legal part of the question, I cannot answer it without notice.
§ MR. O'HANLONIt is not the fact that the wearing of shawls over their heads is the usual head-dress of the peasant women of Gweedore.