HC Deb 08 July 1897 vol 50 cc1344-5
MR. MICHAEL DAVITT (Mayo, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether the prisoners Conneeley, Fitzharris, Mullett, and O'Hanlon, now confined in Maryborough Convict Prison, have completed (including the period during which they were detained awaiting trial) over 14 years' imprisonment; (2) whether they are now, and have been since convicted, classed as well-conducted prisoners by the officials in charge of them, and whether the remissions so far earned by their uniform good conduct represent each of i hem as having virtually undergone a legal sentence of over 17 years; and (3) whether, seeing that three other prisoners, named Dowling, Fox, and Diskin, tried and sentenced at the same time, and subjected to similar prison treatment, were released on the ground of impaired health, and died shortly after liberation, lie will order a special report by the medical officers of Mary-borough Prison on the health of the prisoners Connolley, Fitzharris, Mullett, and O'Hanlon?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

The fact is, as stated in the first paragraph. All four convicts are now, and have been for some years, classed as well-conducted prisoners. The suggestion in the second part of the second paragraph is correct, if it means that each (if the convicts has earned by good conduct and industry more than the number of marks which would qualify him for release on licence, had Ins sentence been one of 17 years; but the hon. Member is doubtless aware that the sentence on Conneeley was one of 20 years, and that Fitzharris, Mullett, and O'Hanlon were sentenced to penal servitude for life. The health of all four convicts is under constant medical supervision, and so recently as the 6th instant, the Resident Medical Officer of the prison reported that Conneeley would be in his usual health in a day or two; that Fitzharris enjoys fair health; that Mullett is convalescent after an attack of influenza; and that O'Hanlon, who suffers from dyspepsia, enjoys otherwise fair health.