HC Deb 13 March 1890 vol 342 cc697-9
MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the result of his further inquiries into the treatment of Mr. John Daly since the visit of Pigott to Chatham Prison, and if any Member of the House applies to him for permission to see Mr. Daly, to inquire into his treatment, will it be granted?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.

The visitors have not yet concluded their investigation, or reported to me. In answer to the second paragraph of the hon. Gentleman's question, I must refer 1dm to the reply I gave to a similar inquiry on February 18th last.

MR. JOHNSTON

Was not the John Daly referred to imprisoned for attempting to blow up the House of Commons with dynamite?

MR. T. M. HEALY

If a man was in prison for attempting to blowup the House of Commons, that is no reason why he should be treated like a dog. I make a distinct allegation that, since Daly was visited by Pigott and asked to give evidence incriminating Members of the House in the dynamite conspiracy, he has been ill-treated. What I want to know is whether, if I write the right hon. Gentleman, a letter requesting leave to see Daly, with a view to investigating the whole matter, he will grant me permission to do so in the same way that Mr. Soames and his agents were admitted into all the gaols in England?

MR. MATTHEWS

No agent of Mr. Soames has been allowed to visit a prison for the purpose of inquiring into a matter of prison discipline. I have already told hon. Members that I have requested the visitors of the prison to make an independent inquiry into the treatment of Daly.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Would application made by me to visit Daly by granted or refused?

MR. MATTHEWS

That would depend upon whether or not Daly was entitled to a. visit. If the hon. Member wishes to investigate matters of prison discipline he would not be allowed to do so.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

Considering the length of time that has elapsed since the prison officials were charged with attempting to poison Daly by administering belladonna, will the Home Secretary take steps to expedite the day on which the Report of the visitors will be received?

MR. MATTHEWS

I cannot name a day; but I have requested the visitors to make the inquiry with reasonable speed. I am unwilling to interfere in an inquiry which I desire to be independent.

MR. CAMPBELL BANNURMAN (Stirling Burghs)

Can the right hon. Gentleman state who the visitors are?

MR. MATTHEWS

The Chairman of the visitors is the County Court Judge of the district.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Have the Government admitted that this convict had doses of belladonna administered to him in excess; and is the First Lord of the Treasury aware that a meeting called at Limerick on Sunday to protest against the treatment of Daly has been proclaimed?

* THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, Westminster

I have no knowledge of the circumstance; but the Attorney General for Ireland tells me that it is not the case.

MR. SEXTON

I will raise the question on the Vote on Account, unless the Report is issued before that time.