§ MR. DELANY (Queen's Co., Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any of the men at present confined in Tullamore Gaol under sentences under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act are upon hard labour and required to do menial work; whether they have been placed upon bread and water diet and obliged to exercise in the ring with ordinary prisoners.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThree were sentenced to hard labour. One, Mr. Hogan, has been exempted on medical grounds from hard labour, and another, Mr. Lowry, exempted from completing a full task. No prisoners under sentence, except first-class misdemeanants, on application, are entitled to the services of assistants. None of the three are on a bread and water diet. All are in the "star" class, and accordingly are not exercised with habitual criminals. Full particulars will be found in Parliamentary Paper 129 of this Session.
§ MR. DELANYBut does not the sentence of one month's imprisonment with hard labour involve, under the prison rules, three days on bread and water and fourteen days on a plank bed?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIt does not oblige bread and water; but if the hon. Member will refer to a copy of the prison rules he will find a full reply to his Question.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)Are we to understand that a sentence of hard labour does not imply bread and water for any period?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, if the hon. Member will look at the rules he will find full information.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Is similar treatment imposed on political prisoners in any other civilised country?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ‡
§ MR. DELANYIs this a fair way to treat political opponents?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ‡