HC Deb 18 April 1890 vol 343 cc806-7
MR. CAREW (Kildare, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the following Report of Mr. McCarthy, Visiting Justice to Grangegorman Prison on the condition of the infant child of Mrs. Morrissey, one of the Clongorey prisoners— I notice a marked change for the worse in the appearance of Mary Morrissey's child. Long Confinement in a small cell is evidently telling on her, and if continued will, in my opinion, have a very serious effect; and whether, under the circumstances, he will recommend the immediate release of both mother and child?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The General Prisons Board report that the Medical Officer of the prison does not entertain a serious view of the condition of the child. Should, however, he be of opinion that further confinement would endanger its health the matter will be at once brought before the committing Judge. It is not the case that the prisoner and her child are confined in a small cell. The prisoner is treated as a first-class misdemeanant, and, as a matter of fact, is permitted to have a small range consisting of four cells during the day. The cell in which she and the child are placed in at night is of good dimensions and well heated and ventilated.

MR. SEXTON

Is it not the fact that this woman is in prison for contempt of an order in regard to a farm of which she was not the tenant, and that the child is only about two months old?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

From the answer I have received from the Prison Authorities, it appears neither the mother nor the child is in danger; and as the woman is in prison for contempt of Court it is a matter which is entirely in the hands of the Judge who committed her.