HC Deb 29 June 1904 vol 137 cc28-31
MR. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what communication had passed between Sir Antony MacDonnell and the Rev. Denis O'Hara, with reference to the Anderson case prior to Sir Antony MacDonnell's official approval of Anderson's dismissal on 23rd January, 1904; and through what channels.

MR. WYNDHAM

Except on one occasion, no communications, verbal or written, with reference to the case of Constable Anderson passed, prior to his' dismissal, between Sir Antony MacDonnell and the Rev. Denis O'Hara, who is, I should like to say, an esteemed colleague of my own on the Congested Districts Board, for whose services and character I have a warm regard. This was the occasion: At a meeting of the Congested Districts Board, Father O'Hara informed Sir Antony MacDonnell that he had applied for the removal from Kilti-magh of a constable, and asked him to look into the matter. Sir Antony MacDonnell replied that he would inquire from the Inspector-General on the subject. He did inquire from the Deputy Inspector-General—the Inspector-General being on leave at the time—what the matter was about. He was informed that a Court of Inquiry had been, or was being, appointed by the Inspector-General. Sir Antony MacDonnell heard nothing further in the case until the Inspector-General's recommendation that Anderson should be dismissed came before him in the usual official course.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what additional evidence of Constable Anderson's innocence, if any, was obtained between the date of the letter of 23rd January, approved of by Sir. Antony MacDonnell, confirming his dismissal from the force, and the date of his reinstatement; and, if no such additional evidence was forthcoming, did Sir Antony MacDonnell concur in Anderson's reinstatement without it.

MR. WYNDHAM

Sir, I would refer my hon. friend to many previous replies given by me on the 13th, 15th, and 20th June,† and to the opinion which I have expressed, and now repeat, viz., that if further debate on this question is desired by my hon. friend, or any other hon. Member, it can be conducted more conveniently on the Vote for my salary than by way of Question and Answer. I should be glad of an opportunity to defend the exercise of my discretion and the action of the Inspector-General, if these are attacked; and to repudiate charges against Sir Antony MacDonnell and the Rev. Denis O'Hara if these are preferred. That opportunity is not to be found within the limitations of separate replies to a series of argumentative Questions; and I must respectfully decline to continue this controversy except by way of debate in Committee of Supply under conditions which would admit of my dealing fully with the whole matter.

MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN

On behalf of the hon. Member for East Mayo I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the district inspector and sergeant at Rossport, county Mayo, were asked to report on Constable Anderson's record while he was stationed there; and, if so, what was the nature of their reports.

MR. WYNDHAM

I have given very fully all the grounds upon which the Inspector-General, Sir N. Chamberlain, recommended the dismissal of this constable, and all the grounds upon which I recommended his reinstatement. They were confined in each case to specific charges preferred in connection with Constable Anderson's conduct when stationed at Kiltimagh. It would not, in my opinion, be proper for me to enlarge that issue now by taking note of; other matters or allegations unconnected with those charges. But, in any case, I must respectfully decline to discuss the existence or character of confidential instructions and reports on matters of discipline in the Royal Irish Constabulary.

MR. JOSEPH DEVLIN

On behalf of the hon. Member for East Mayo, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, when constable Anderson was removed from Rossport to Mullaghmore, the police at these † See (4) Debates, cxxxv., 1497, cxxxvi., 147,, 486. stations got instructions to note every time Constable Anderson was seen in the neighbourhood of Rossport.

MR. WYNDHAM

I must respectfully decline to discuss the existence or character of confidential instructions.