MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. John Slattery, T.C., President of the South of Ireland Cattle Trade Association, and Mr. Thomas Barry, Poor Law Guardian, at present bail prisoners in Cork Gaol, are required to receive visits in what is known as "the cage," the place used by convicted criminals; whether bail prisoners, like first-class misdemeanants, are entitled to see their friends in a different sort of reception room; and, if so, why the gentlemen named are differently treated; and will he order that they are provided with a. suitable place to see their visitors?
MR, MADDENAs already stated in reply to previous questions, the bail prisoners mentioned receive their visitors in the ordinary visiting room, which is a comfortable one in all respects. The General Prisons Board report that neither untried nor bail prisoners are entitled, under the rules, to the privilege enjoyed by first-class misdemeanants referred to in the second paragraph. As regards the inquiry in the last paragraph, the matter is one exclusively for the Prisons Board, who must be guided by their Rules.
§ DR. TANNERIs it not the fact that the Chief Secretary, in answer to a question on this subject last August, statedthat all bail prisoners under the Crimes Act would be treated as first-class misdemeanants?
§ MR. MADDENI am not aware that he made that statement.
§ DR. TANNERI must correct the statement. What the right hon. Gentleman said was the bail prisoners would he better treated than first-class misdemeanants.
§ MR. MADDENI believe that in some respects they are.
§ DR. TANNERHas Mr. John Slattery been treated in the same manner that I was when I was a bail prisoner last year?
§ MR. MADDENThe prison officials must be guided by the rules laid down., which rules are prescribed by the Prisons-Board.