HC Deb 22 April 1901 vol 92 cc901-3
MR. JOYCE (Limerick)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Michael McMahon, now a prisoner in Gosport gaol, whose offence was that he struck a sergeant, who he allegesstruck him first, for going for a drink of water at the Modder River; is he aware that this boy joined the County Limerick Militia without the consent of his widowed mother, when he was not fifteen years old, that he volunteered into the 3rd Royal Minister Fusiliers, and was sent to South Africa, and in ten weeks marched 800 miles; and whether, taking this boy's age into account, and the fact that he has already spent five months in prison, he will take his case into consideration with a view of remitting the remainder of his sentence.

LORD STANLEY

It is presumed that No. 6449, Private Michael McMahon, 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, is the man referred to. He was tried by general court-martial on November 11th for striking his superior officer, and again on November 13th for disobeying the lawful command of a superior officer, and was sentenced to one year for the first offence, and to one year and discharge with ignominy for the second. Nothing is known about the statements made in the second paragraph of the question. He stated his age at seventeen, and had the physical equivalents. As to the final paragraph, the Commander-in-Chief decided about a fortnight ago to make a partial remission of his imprisonment, contingent on his good behaviour in prison.

MR. JOYCE

Is it not the fact that this boy when sentenced was under sixteen years of age, and that he was a mere schoolboy fighting the battles in South Africa?

LORD STANLEY

He gave his age as seventeen and looked like it.

MR. JOYCE

If I can prove he was under sixteen at the time sentence was passed, will the noble Lord see that the remainder of his punishment is remitted?

[No answer was given.]

MR. T. M. HEALY

When does the noble Lord expect to give me the particulars of sentences on soldiers in South Africa about which I have several times questioned him?

LORD STANLEY

I am afraid I cannot answer that. It hardly arises out of the question.

MR. T. M. HEALY

How many Irish soldiers have you in gaol?

[No answer was given.]