§ Mr. M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu- 1339 tenant of Ireland whether he can state the grounds on which Sergeant Sheridan was dismissed from the police force in Ireland, and why a public inquiry applied for by Sergeant Sheridan into the grounds of his dismissal was refused; and is he aware that Sergeant Sheridan has publicly stated that he was wrongfully dismissed; and is it the intention of the Irish Government to prosecute Sergeant Sheridan for the offences for which he was dismissed.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe case of ex-Sergeant Sheridan has already been exhaustively discussed in this House. I must refer the hon. Member to the statement made by me on the Appropriation Bill at the end of last session†;to that statement I have nothing to add.
§ MR. DILLONThis is a very important question. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman why Sergeant Sheridan, while under charge of the gravest possible crime, was allowed to go free in Ireland for many months? Is it true he has now been allowed to leave the country for America? If so, why was he not put upon his trial?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI cannot answer the Question put to me without repeating a great portion of a speech I made last year. It was a difficult case, and I have already stated the reasons for coming to the decision we did. If hon. Members are not satisfied, they will no doubt give me another opportunity of justifying my action. I cannot, however, do that in answer to a Question.
§ MR. DILLONNobody in Ireland is satisfied, and I shall take the earliest opportunity of raising the question.