§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if Mr. O'Flanagan. J.P., Chairman of the District Council of Cordfin, was recently sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1887, and if he will state what was the character of his punishment; whether he had to sleep on a plank bed: whether he had for any time, and, if so, for how long a time, to subsist on bread and water; and if he has become insane, and has had to be transferred to a lunatic asylum.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe following report has been made by the Governor of Limerick Prison through the General Prisons Board—
Mr. Flanagan was committed to this prison from Corofin Petty Sessions on 17th June last for four calendar months' hard labour under the Act referred to. He slept on a 245 plank for the two nights succeeding his commitment to prison, after which he was given a full bed on the recommendation of the medical officer. He was not subjected to any punishment, and at no time did he get or subsist on bread and water. His employment for the first month of his sentence was chopping wood for manufacture into firewood, and during the remainder of his time he was engaged at carpentry work. On the 12th September, having complained of being unwell, he was placed under medical treatment, and on the 13th was removed to the prison hospital. On the 14th September, typhoid having developed, the medical officer recommended his discharge from prison, and he was accordingly released on the 15th September, by order of the Lords Justices, and removed to the County Limerick Infirmary under the supervision of the medical officer, who is physician to the Infirmary. He remained there under treatment, in the meantime, but having lately become insane he was on the 11th instant committed from the Infirmary to the Limerick District Lunatic Asylum. During the thirteen weeks he had been in custody at this prison he made no complaint as to his treatment. When he had been only three weeks in prison he got a pint of new milk extra, daily, which was continued up to the time of his removal to hospital and since the 8th August he had been getting C. Diet instead of 15. diet.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI hold the hon. Gentleman responsible for this man's condition.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANWill a sworn inquiry be held into this case?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI must ask for notice of that.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order‡ It is now five minutes to three, and Questions must stop, except those relating to business and matters of urgent public importance.