MR. P. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Dr. Gallagher, at present confined in Portland Prison, suffers from insanity; whether he is aware that a brother of Dr. Gallagher is at present a dangerous lunatic in America, and that insanity is hereditary in the family, and whether, under the circumstances, he will allow an independent medical man to examine Dr. Gallagher, or will he consider the advisability of releasing him on condition that he returns to his family in America?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have received a Report, dated yesterday, from the medical officer of Portland Prison, who informs me that he finds no indications of mental unsoundness in Gallagher; that he is perfectly rational; and that he has never, while in prison, shown signs of mental degeneration. I see no reasons for allowing an independent medical examination, and I cannot advise the release of the prisoner. I have 38 no information as to the second paragraph of the question.
MR. P. O'BRIENAs I got my information from a fellow prisoner, who told me Dr. Gallagher was suffering from melancholia or some form of insanity. I would ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will make further inquiries? Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman did allow, other doctors than the medical officers of the prison to see Dr. Gallagher?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI must ask the hon. Member to observe that my information on this subject does not come from common talk amongst persons in the gaol, but from a careful and most deliberate Report made by the medical officer of the prison.
MR. P. O'BRIENI would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it was not common talk that led to an inquiry as to the weak state of health of O'Donoyan Rossa, and whether his infirmity was not denied on the authority of the medical officers at the time, just the same as in this case?
§ MR. J. E. REDMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of those prisoners have become insane: since their conviction some years ago?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have answered that question, or a similar one, several times.
§ MR. J. O'CONNORMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the fact that Dr. Gallagher was reported by the Visiting Committee to-have been suffering from insanity three years ago?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am not aware of any such report; but if the hon. Member will put the question on the Paper, I will inquire.
MR. P. O'BRIENIf I drew attention to the mental state of an English prisoner, whom I allege to be insane, would the right hon. Gentleman get his information from the same source as that to which he applies in the case of Dr. Gallagher? In one case it was found out afterwards that the prisoner was mentally wrong as had been stated, and he was ordered to be removed to the Asylum. I ask the right hon. Gentleman how he can now rely on the Report of the medical officer of the prison in view of cases that have occurred before?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORI wish to ask the Home Secretary, with reference to Question 64, whether as it is notorious in America that there is insanity in the family of Dr. Gallagher, he will follow the precedent he has followed in other cases, and allow an independent medical inquiry if the expenses are paid by the parties interested?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI should prefer not to give a definite answer to that question without notice. At present it strikes me that the circumstances are quite different to those in the case in which I allowed an independent medical examination. In that case there was undoubted illness of a grave character, and it was to calm the distress and anxiety of the friends of the prisoner that I allowed an independent medical man to see him. Here I see no ground for investigation by anyone.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORIt is exactly to calm the distress of the friends of the unfortunate man in America that we are asking for an independent medical inquiry into the case.
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe hon. Member omits the most important circumstance, that in the other case there was ground for alarm, but in this there is absolutely none.
MR. P. O'BRIENI would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in a case of insanity which has recently been brought under his notice, the official medical officer said there was no insanity, but that it afterwards turned out that there was? Was not the second examination in consequence of a question put in this House; and, for that reason, does he not think it desirable that some independent medical man should examine the prisoner, and the expense be borne by the authorities?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI cannot follow the reasoning of the hon. Gentleman. Will he put a question down on the Paper?