HC Deb 02 May 1901 vol 93 cc450-1
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. M'Hugh, M.P., now confined in Kilmain-ham Gaol under a sentence of six months as a misdemeanant of the first class, has been refused permission to edit his newspaper, the Sligo Champion; whether he will inquire of the Home Secretary what is the practice in similar cases in England, and what privileges in the matter of editing and conducting his papers were allowed to Mr. W. T. Stead when in prison; and will he take steps to secure to Mr. M'Hugh the same privileges as were accorded to Mr. Stead.

MR. WYNDHAM

Mr. M'Hugh was refused permission to write a weekly despatch to his paper, the visiting committee being precluded, as they considered, from granting this request, I am informed that Mr. Stead was not allowed to edit and conduct his papers when in prison in 1885.

MR. DILLON

Will the same right be extended to Mr. M'Hugh as to Mr. Stead?

MR. WYNDHAM

I can only say that I will give the hon, Member a copy of the requisitions made by Mr. M'Hugh, and of the sanctions that have been given.

MR. TULLY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when I was a first-class misdemeanant in Sligo prison—

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Will the copy of the requisition made by Mr. Stead and the answers to them be given, so that we may compare them, and will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that the same privileges shall be given to Mr. M'Hugh as were given to Mr. Stead?

MR. WYNDHAM

It does not rest with me to give any such undertaking. It rests with the visiting committee, who act under rules presented to Parliament.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

May I ask whether, in view of the fact that the sentence inflicted upon Mr. M'Hugh involved imprisonment only and no fine, the Government will consider the desirability of avoiding imposing any penalty upon Mr. M'Hugh in regard to his paper?

MR. TULLY

Will Mr. M'Hugh have the same privileges as were given to the editors and other Irish Members who were imprisoned?

MR. WYNDHAM

I have already promised to give a list of the requisitions and the decisions, and I cannot say more.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

What object is to be gained by attempting to stifle public opinion in Ireland?

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that other gentlemen similarly placed to Mr. M'Hugh have been granted permission to edit their papers?

*MR. SPEAKER

That does not arise out of the question.

DR. AMBROSE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the judge who tried the case was not the same judge—

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That does not arise out of the question.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman, answer my question?

[No answer was returned.]