§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork County, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a man named Jeremiah M'Carthy, who was arrested at Bantry in default of paying a fine of 11s. 6d., and who complained at the time of his arrest of being ill; whether it was the duty of the police who effected his arrest to have him examined by a doctor; and, if so, was he so examined; whether he is aware that M'Carthy was conveyed on the evening of his arrest to the County Cork Prison, a distance of 60 miles from Bantry; that, on the journey to Cork, he frequently complained to his escort of being very ill, but the escort took no steps to alleviate his suffering; and that, on his arrival at Cork Prison, the Governor of it was told by the escort of 1531 Mr. M'Carthy's condition; when did the medical officer of the prison visit him; whether he is aware that M'Carthy died in prison on the morning after his arrival, and that, at a coroner's inquest, the medical officer of the prison condemned the treatment of Mr. M'Carthy; and whether, in the future, prisoners who are ill will be differently dealt with? I beg further to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that at a coroner's inquest, held on a prisoner who died in the county prison, Cork, it was proved that the cost of conveying the prisoner from Bantry to Cork, in default of paying a fine of 11s. 6d., was £1 9s.; whether the former practice was to imprison persons sentenced to short terms in the local bridewell at Bantry; and whether, in the interest of public economy, the former practice will be reverted to?
§ MR. ASQUITH (for Mr. J. MORLEY)The Chief Secretary is informed that M'Carthy was arrested on a warrant for drunkenness in default of paying a fine. He did not appear to be ill at the time of his arrest, nor did he complain of being ill at that time, but he did complain of being exhausted. He was not examined at this stage by a doctor, as he appeared to the police to be in good health. He was conveyed to the City of Cork by the next train after his arrest. On the journey he complained that he was not well, and was suffering; from the effects of a drinking bout. He asked for a glass of water, which was given to him, and subsequently at Cork he asked for a glass of brandy; but this the escort would not permit, the prisoner having admitted that he had signed the pledge against drinking only a few days previously. The escort informed the prison officials that the prisoner had been coughing, and complained of being ill on the way to Cork. At 10.45 on the morning after his arrival he was visited by the medical officer of the prison, and shortly afterwards the prisoner died, the cause of death being cardiac syncope and acute catarrh. An inquiry was held by order of the General Prisons Board, and the result notified the Board that the prison officials were in no way to blame, but that they had behaved in a humane and proper manner. Three days was the statutory limit of time which the prisoner 1532 could have been detained in the Bride well at Bantry.
§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, W.)This appears to be as bad a case as has ever occurred, even in connection with an Irish prison, and I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will be so good as to lay on the Table of the House a copy of the evidence taken before the inquiry, and also whether he proposes to take any further action with regard to the conduct of the police, who, having arrested this man at 10 o'clock in the morning, being told by him that he had been coughing, and was very ill, took him a journey of nearly 60 miles, and having deposited him in Cork Gaol, told the Governor about him? He would also ask what was to be done with regard to the Governor, who left this man in his cell with bread and water all the night, and only had him visited next day—an hour before his death —by a prison doctor.
§ MR. ASQUITHI cannot give any pledge on the subject, but I will bring what the hon. Gentleman has said before my right hon. Friend, who will no doubt communicate with him.