§ MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many prisoners attending the ministrations of the Roman Catholic Chaplain, and how many prisoners of other religious denominations, were confined in Derry Gaol on the 10th September, 1889; on what ground was the Reverend J. Doherty dismissed from the post of Roman Catholic Chaplain of Derry Gaol by the Prisons Board; did the Prisons Board apply by letter, dated the 10th September, 1889, to the Very Reverend J. Kearney, Vicar Capitular of the Diocese of Derry, to nominate, for the approval of the Lord Lieutenant, another clergyman in succession to Father Doherty, as Chaplain of Derry Gaol, and can he state what reply was received to this letter; were the Roman Catholics of Derry Gaol deprived for two months after the dismissal of Father Doherty of the ministrations of a Chaplain, and were they then at great expense sent to other prisons; has. Father Doherty recently received a letter from the Prisons Board, who, on September 10th, 1889, accused him to Father Kearney, his clerical superior, of "gross insubordination to prison authority," intimating that if he again stated his position they would reconsider their decision, and what reply has Father Doherty returned to this communication; would he have any objection to lay upon the Table of the House the evidence adduced at the inquiry, and the correspondence between the Prisons Board and Father Doherty and Father Kearney, and to state what arrangement has been made for providing for the 419 spiritual wants of the Roman Catholic prisoners of Derry Gaol; is it the fact that at present Roman Catholic prisoners sentenced to terms of imprisonment exceeding in duration one month are removed from Derry Gaol to other prisons; and would he state the number of Roman Catholic prisoners transferred from Derry Gaol to other prisons from the date of the dismissal of Father Doherty till the present time, by reason of his dismissal, and the amount of the expense incurred in consequence of the said transfer?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)The General Prisons Board report that on 10th September, 1889, there were in Londonderry Prison 121 Roman Catholic prisoners and 25 prisoners of other religious denominations. On that date the Chaplain mentioned was dismissed on the ground stated in the question. The Chaplain did not offer any justification whatever for his action, but refused "to answer any questions or sign his name to anything." The Governor of the Prison in accordance with the usual practice proceeded as indicated in the 4th paragraph. The facts are as stated in the 5th paragraph. The letter was dated 19th September. No communication has passed between the General Prisons Board and the late Chaplain; but on the 2nd October, 1889, the Board informed the Very Rev. J. Kearney to the effect that it was open to the late Chaplain, if he considered himself aggrieved in any way, to appeal to the Lords Justices, a course which would be also open to any Chaplain who might be appointed to succeed him, as it is to every prison officer. It is not usual, or for the interests of the Public Service, that such evidence should be laid on the Table. The Inspector states that he did not inform the late Chaplain of the nature of the inquiry, nor is such the practice, all prison officers being expected to assist the Board's Inspector at any time in matters of discipline. Owing to the refusal of the Vicar Capitular to nominate a successor, the Roman Catholic prisoners were for the period stated deprived of the ministrations of the Chaplain. The Board then adopted the practice of removing such prisoners, whose sentences exceeded one month, 420 to another prison. Fifty-seven prisoners have been so transferred. The claims for the expense incurred have not yet been furnished.