§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Inspector General, Royal Irish Constabulary, declined to communicate the result of the Constabulary Inquiry held at Youghal, County Cork, on the 6th and 7th instant, to the public Press; whether he is aware that information of a similar character is never refused either by Civil or Military Courts; and whether, in the public interest, he will take steps to secure the extension of this rule to Constabulary Courts?
MR. J. MORLEYThe Inspector General informs me that it would be contrary to the Rules of the Force to sanction the publication of his decisions in such cases. In the particular case in question his decision was communicated to the members of the Force concerned; this is the course invariably followed, and the Inspector General considers that any change in the direction suggested would be detrimental to the interests of discipline and management of the Constabulary.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANDoes not the Chief Secretary consider it would be more satisfactory that this information should be officially communicated, rather than that it should be obtained through irregular and unauthorised sources?
MR. J. MORLEYIf the hon. Member refers to the communication of the bare decision, I see no reason why that should not be done.