HC Deb 21 May 1900 vol 83 cc746-7
MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Cork)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the evidence given at an inquest recently held at the Cork County Gaol in connection with the death of a prisoner named Andrew Cull, and to the comments of the coroner upon the occasion; and whether, in view of the circumstances of the case, it is proposed to institute a further inquiry.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The deceased had been committed to Cork Prison on the 9th April under sentence of one calendar month, with hard labour, for insubordination in the workhouse, and he died in the prison on the 7th May. The coroner observed that the medical officer of the prison should have discharged the prisoner. The medical officer has no such power, and the Prisons Board are of opinion that the medical officer did not fail in his duty in not recommending the prisoner's discharge for the consideration of the Lord Lieutenant, in whom alone is vested the exorcise of this power. The illness of the prisoner became suddenly so critical that he could not have been discharged, and no advantage would have been obtained by ordering his discharge from prison, when, in all probability, he would have been retransferred to the workhouse. Upon the information before me I see no sufficient grounds for directing a further inquiry into the matter as suggested.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how long the man had been in custody when he died?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

Loss than a month.

MR. T. M. HEALY

His sentence was but a month, but how long was he in gaol before he died?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

He was committed on the 9th April and died on the 7th May.

DR. TANNER

Was there any special medical report?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

Only that of the medical officer.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Did the medical officer of the Prisons Board visit the prison after the conviction of the man and before his death?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

I cannot say.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the man first complained of being ill?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

No. If any further information is wanted I must ask for notice.