§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether a prisoner named Hehir, now confined in Dundrum, became a lunatic whilst he was detained at Mountjoy Prison; whether the prison authorities were fully warned as to the man's condition while he was undergoing probationary punishment; whether he is aware that the Deputy Governor acknowledged to a prisoner that Hehir was losing his senses, and that the Rev. Dr. O'Donnell drew the attention of the Governor and the prison doctor to his condition; whether he was all the time kept in solitary confinement, and after his probation was ended was he put to weaving work alone; is it usual to put prisoners suffering from dementia to work in association, and was the custom departed from in the case of Hehir; and, if so, why; and, if Hehir is a lunatic, will he, under the circumstances, be released at an early date?
§ * MR. JACKSONThe General Prisons Board report that it is the case that the convict Hehir referred to, now confined in Dundrum Asylum, developed symptoms of insanity while confined in Mountjoy Prison. His case was carefully watched by the medical officer, who ordered him extra open air exercise and extra diet, both of which he received. After probation he worked at weaving in association, and was subsequently employed in the open air. The usual custom was followed in this convict's case.