HC Deb 22 October 1902 vol 113 cc478-80
CAPTAIN DONELAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is intended to hold a sworn inquiry into the case of Mr. O'Flanagan, J. P., Chairman of the District Council of Cordfin, who was recently sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour under The Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1887, and who is now an inmate of a lunatic asylum.

MR. WYNDHAM

I have no objection to a sworn inquiry into the prison discipline of Limerick Prison, or the sanitation of that prison, or the medical treatment which Mr. O'Flanagan received, whether in prison prior to his falling ill, or in the county infirmary, where symptoms of typhoid were developed, provided that the hon. and gallant Member will indicate whether he desires the inquiry to be directed to any or all of these questions, or to others. I should, however, say that I have a report from Dr. Woodhouse, the Medical Member of the General Prisons Board, dated September 18th, which deals with the circumstances of Mr. O'Flanagan's illness and its melancholy consequences, and also a report of an inquiry in August by the Medical Inspector of the Local Government Board on the outbreak of typhoid fever in the city of Limerick. I am prepared to lay these on the Table of the House, since the hon. and gallant Member may consider, on reading them, that a case for further inquiry does not arise. I have no objection to a further sworn inquiry.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the extreme gravity of this case, and the great excitement it has caused in the neighbourhood from which Mr. O'Flanagan comes, he will have the inquiry held without delay?

MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)

And will the Press be admitted?

MR. WYNDHAM

All the facts are contained in the two reports I have referred to. I have said I have no objection to a sworn inquiry if one is desired.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

But will it be held without delay?

MR. WYNDHAM

I must first have a specific statement of the points on which inquiry is desired. I have suggested four of them, but if the hon. Member has others in mind perhaps he will put a Question down and I will consider it.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

We want the whole case inquired into, the circumstances connected with the outbreak of typhoid, the prison treatment of the man, his condition at the time he was received, and in fact everything connected with it.

MR. WYNDHAM

I have said that I have not the slightest objection.

MR. POWER

What about publicity?

CAPTAIN DONELAN

Will the inquiry be open to the Press and the public?

MR. WYNDHAM

I am not aware of that. I will do my best to secure the utmost publicity in regard to the circumstances of this case, a publicity which I should welcome, as a great deal of prejudice has been aroused which I should like to see dispelled.

MR. MACVEAGH

Who is to hold the inquiry?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order. The Question has been fully answered.