§ MR. M. HEALY (Cork)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the fact that at an inquest held last week in Tullamore Gaol, on the body of a man named Christopher King, who died whilst undergoing a sentence of imprisonment, the jury commented on the neglect of the prison officials in not summoning the Catholic chaplain when the condition of the deceased became serious; what are the exact facts as regards the neglect referred to; and who was responsible for what occurred?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe General Prisons Board report that the facts are not as stated in the question. The jury did not allege neglect on the part of the prison officials. On the contrary, while saying that it appeared that no doctor or clergyman had seen the prisoner from the time of the attack till his death they expressed the opinion that this was no doubt unavoidable. As a matter of fact, the prisoner, immediately upon his receiving a stroke of paralysis, was visited by the doctor, and a messenger was at once despatched for the Roman Catholic chaplain.
§ MR.M. HEALYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the doctor saw the prisoner at once, and if the clergyman was summoned at once, what was it that the jury commented upon?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs I understand, what the jury said was that the man had not been visited, but they did not attach blame to any of the officials?