HC Deb 24 March 1890 vol 342 cc1671-2
DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland if his attention has been directed to the evidence given at the inquest upon the sudden death of John Conolly, of Leap, County Cork, in the bail section of the Cork County Gaol, on Wednesday, the 12th instant, from which it appears that Conolly, when previously imprisoned, a short time since, was confined in an invalid cell; that he had been anointed by Eather Carney, C.C., on the morning of his arrest, and was found in bed by the police, who arrested him, took him to Leap, and kept him there all night; that Dr. Moriarty, the prison physician, swore that the man was seriously and dangerously ill, and not in a fit condition to be removed, and that he died from collapse in consequence of his removal by the police; whether he is aware that the post mortem examination proved the man had suffered from extensive disease of the heart, lungs, pleura, and liver; and whether the Government propose to take any action with regard to the conduct of the police on this occasion?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN,) University of Dublin

The attention of the Irish Government has been directed to the case referred to. It appears that the deceased, who had been out on bail on a charge of cattle stealing, was arrested on March 10th, at the instance of one of his sureties on his sworn information that the man was about to abscond. The police had no reason to believe that the deceased man was in a serious condition of health. On the contrary, it appears, from evidence given at the inquest, that the deceased's mother stated in their presence on the occasion of the arrest that the man ought to be out at work, as she never saw him looking better. Dr. Moriarty appears in his evidence to have stated, as the result of a post mortem examination, that the cause of death was syncope, and that he found a considerable amount of disease, sufficient to cause death at any moment. That disease appears to have been of the nature indicated in the second paragraph. The Government are not aware of action on their part being called for. The Coroner's jury acquitted the police of any culpability in the matter.

DR. TANNER

Is it not the fact that this man was confined on his first imprisonment in an invalid cell, under medical supervision, owing to the delicate state of his health?

MR. MADDEN

Yes, Sir; I think the hon. Member is quite right that on the occasion of his first arrest Conolly was confined in the hospital, but there was no reason to suppose at that time that his illness was of the serious nature which it subsequently turned out to be.

DR. TANNER

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the fact that at that time Conolly was suffering from extensive disease?

ME. MADDEN

I do not thins that attention was called to the actual condition of the man until the post mortem examination took place. Until that took place the serious character of the disease had not manifested itself.

DR. TANNER

Is it not the fact that when released from his first imprisonment this man was unable to walk and was assisted downstairs?

MR. MADDEN

I know nothing about that.