MR. P. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Coroner was informed by the Governor of Mountjoy Prison, before the close of the inquest on the late Mr. P. W. Nally, that the five prisoners named by Mr. M'Auley in his letter published in the Western People, of the 12th inst., were anxious to be examined, and to give material evidence as to the cause of death, and the prison treatment of Mr. Nally; and, if not, will he allow the evidence which those prisoners were ready to give to be taken by some person independent of the prison authorities?
§ MR. JACKSONThe General Prisons Board report that the Governor of Mountjoy Prison did not inform the Coroner that five prisoners desired to give evidence at the inquest on the body of P. W. Nally; but the Governor informed the Coroner that any person under his control was at the Coroner's service as a witness. He did not specify any particular persons. Two of the convicts referred to in the question have since been released from prison.
MR. P. O'BRIENDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it a satisfactory state of things that the Coroner should be told this? How could the Coroner know that evidence would be forthcoming?
§ MR. JACKSONSo far as I am able to judge, it would be an unusual or an improper thing for the Governor to suggest that prisoners desired to give evidence.
§ MR. SEXTONTo make the matter clear I may say the man died, and five prisoners said they had material evidence to give. Why did the Governor not inform the Coroner that this evidence was available? How could the Coroner know unless informed? Does the right hon. Gentleman approve of the suppression of the fact that 339 these five persons had evidence to give?
§ MR. JACKSONI do not think I can find fault with the Governor. I do not think that it is desirable, because prisoners desire to give evidence, they should therefore necessarily be called as witnesses.
MR. P. O'BRIENIs it not the usual course in Ireland if the police have any evidence to inform the Coroner, and, shut up in prison, how could these men make known the fact that they had evidence to give?
§ MR. STOREY (Sunderland)Is it not the invariable practice in this country for the police to put the names of witnesses before the Coroner?
§ MR. JACKSONThat is a question for the Home Office.
§ MR. JACKSONI have already answered the hon. Member.
MR. P. O'BRIENI respectfully submit my question has not been answered. How was the Coroner to know of this evidence when the fact was suppressed by the Governor? I shall take another opportunity of calling attention to this.