§ MR. CULLINAN (Tipperay, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the conviction, on the 22nd instant, of three men of the Worcester regiment stationed in Tipperary, at the Clonmel Quarter Sessions, for window breaking in that town, and to the words used by the County Court Judge, in passing sentence, to the effect that the offence was wilful and must not be permitted to continue; is he aware that three other men of the same regiment were convicted of stealing watches, and that during last year windows were broken and houses damaged by men of the 1320 regiment then stationed there; and as the ratepayers have had to pay compensation to the owners of these premises, will he instruct the War Office to recoup the Local Urban Council the amounts so paid, and take steps to prevent a repetition of such offences by the military.
LORD STANLEYThe windows were broken by recently joined recruits. The judge made no remarks in passing sentence. This is the first time the men of this regiment have committed such an offence in the district. The watches were stolen by men of indifferent character with a view to being discharged after conviction for felony. As regards compensation, the remedy is against the individual soldier and not against the State, and would form a matter on which the judge would adjudicate in passing sentence.