MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of a man, named James Hawkins, aged 24, who was arrested at Carlow on the 13th ultimo, on a charge of assault, and committed to Kilkenny Gaol, on remand, on the 15th, and who died in the police barrack Carlow on the 23rd; is he aware that Hawkins was placed on punishment diet, bread and water, on the 17th, 18th, and 19th, because a small piece of tobacco was found con- 516 cealed in his clothes when they were taken from him; did Hawkins complain of illness in the prison, and was he sent to hospital; and, if not, will he explain on what grounds; was he medically examined on arrival at the prison, and again before he was put on bread and water; is he aware that the Coroner's jury found that Hawkins died from influenza and congestion of the liver caused by the treatment he received in gaol; censured the prison doctor for want of care in the treatment of Hawkins; and condemned the rules that permit a Governor to inflict such punishment for so slight an offence on an untried prisoner; whether he will cause a sworn inquiry into, the prison treatment of this man; and whether he intends to advise the Government to give any compensation to his mother and sister, of whom he was the principal support?
§ MR. JACKSONThe facts appear to be as stated in the first paragraph. The prisoner was charged with deliberately breaking the prison rules by having tobacco concealed in several parts of his clothes. On the 21st he was reported sick to the medical officer, but his temperature was normal, and the medical officer did not consider it necessary to place him in hospital. But as influenza was prevalent in the district, he offered to detain the prisoner, who, however, insisted on going to Carlow to get his trial over as soon as possible. The answer to the inquiry in the fourth paragraph is in the affirmative. I understand the verdict of the Coroner's jury was to the effect indicated in the question. The Government see no necessity to adopt either of the courses suggested in the last two paragraphs.
MR. P. O'BRIENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this tobacco was in this man's clothing when he reached the prison? The Governor-had power to search him when ha entered; and does not the right hon. Gentleman think that to punish this, man two or three days afterwards was going beyond the circumstances of the. case?
§ MR. JACKSONAccording to the information supplied to me, he was warned to give up anything he had, and I take it that this tobacco was subsequently found.
MR. P. O'BRIENThe Act gives the Governor power to take the clothing from prisoners, and the Governor swore at, the inquiry that he took the clothes from the man because they were in a bad sanitary condition. If that is so, I think it is pretty clear they must have been in a bad sanitary condition when the man was received at the prison.
§ MR. JACKSONThat does not arise in the hon. Gentleman's question on the Paper, and I have no information as to that particular matter.