§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the letter of Mr. M'Auly, published in the Irish Daily Independent of the 18th instant, in which it is alleged that a prisoner, named Thomas O'Leary, confined in Mountjoy Convict Prison, whose health has suffered seriously from being employed at indoor work, has repeatedly applied to the Governor and the Irish Prisons Board to be employed permanently in the open air, in the belief that his health would be benefited, and that his application has not yet been granted; whether it is usual to make such changes in favour of prisoners whose conduct is good, or whose health suffers from indoor employment; and, if so, what special reason is there for refusing O'Leary; and will he see that his case is re-considered?
§ MR. JACKSONI am informed that there is no foundation for the suggestion that this prisoner's health has suffered seriously from being employed at indoor work. He has applied to the Governor to be employed permanently in the open air, but that request could not be granted.
§ MR. JOHN O'CONNORI desire to ask the Chief Secretary whether it is a fact that this man has been refused work in the open air since the year 1888; and I should like to know from whom he gets his information. Is it from the Governor of the prison or from the Prisons Board?
§ MR. JACKSONI had the opportunity of getting full and complete in- 1564 formation, because I personally visited the prison and saw all the officers.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENDid the right hon. Gentleman see this particular prisoner?
§ MR. JACKSONYes; and the place where he worked.