HC Deb 09 May 1890 vol 344 c562
MR. FLYNN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland will he explain why Messrs. Mulligan, Kavanagh, Mordaunt, and Grannel, who were sentenced by a Special Court, under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, at Gorey on Monday last, were handcuffed in pairs, and conveyed under a heavy escort to Wexford Gaol?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Constabulary Authorities report that the course referred to was rendered necessary to secure the safe custody of the prisoners, a, large number of persons having assembled and surrounded the escort in charge of the prisoners. The police are responsible for the custody of prisoners, and it might be that they anticipated a rescue.

MR. CLANCY

Has there been a single attempt at rescue for the last five or six years?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

If that is the case, I suppose it is because the precautions taken have been adequate.