§ MR. M. KENNY (Tyrone, Mid.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of James Corrigan, or Maguire, who was convicted of larceny at the recent Tyrone Assizes: if he received the Victoria Cross and a £10 annuity for an act of great valour while serving in the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers at the capture of Delhi; if he has since forfeited both in consequence of convictions for various offences; if his conduct while serving in the Army was good, and that he attained the rank of sergeant while in the Service; if he is aware that Maguire is apparently suffering from some mental affliction, probably the result of sunstroke, and is in such a state that the learned Judge discharged him from custody; if inquiry will be made, and Maguire medically examined with a view to testing his mental condition; and if it is found that he has not been really responsible for offences with which he has been charged, will the War Office restore his forfeited annuity, or make other suitable provision for him in his old age?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling, &c.James Maguire lost his annuity so long ago as 1862, when he was convicted of felony, and, under the Statutes of the Victoria Cross, was necessarily struck off the roll of that Order. The Judge who tried the case 87 did not consider that there were mitigating circumstances, and as it was fully considered by one of my predecessors I am not prepared to re-open the question. The man served in the local Indian Forces, but he is eligible for consideration, among other applicants, for the special campaign pension now being awarded.