§ MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Thomas Flinn, formerly of the 64th Regiment, is now a pauper inmate of the Athlone Workhouse; that he holds the Victoria Cross for valour, and wears also the medals for Persia and India, having been present at Cawnpore and Lucknow, where he was severely wounded in attacking some guns, one of which he brought off himself; whether he is aware that Flinn was awarded a pension of £10 a year for his valorous conduct, which sum the Guardians of the Athlone Union appropriate towards his maintenance; and whether some small increase could be made, so as to enable him in his old age to end his days more comfortably than in a workhouse?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAR DEPARTMENT (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)This case is well known at the War Office. Flynn did very gallant service and was awarded the Victoria Cross, but I regret to say that he was discharged with a very bad character, he having been entered in the defaulter-book 47 times, and tried by Court Martial 15 times. The poor man is a victim to drink to such an extent that when he had the control of his money he only left the workhouse for the purpose of drinking up his annuity as soon as received. It would consequently be useless to consider his case for an increase.