§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)On behalf of the hon. Member for North Kilkenny, I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the remarks made by the Lord Chief Baron at the Derry Assizes on March 20th, to the effect that he knew that the Constabulary were instructed by the Government to ask questions of a prisoner, and that he would not allow that as evidence, and that he considered it as illegal that the police were obliged to ask these questions, but he was obliged to carry out what he considered was the law of the land; and whether, in view of this judicial pronouncement upon the practice, the Government will issue orders that it shall be forthwith discontinued.
§ THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. JAMES CAMPBELL, Dublin University)May I be allowed to answer this for my right hon. friend? My attention has been called to a newspaper report. I have no means of knowing whether it is accurate or not, but it would appear to me that it must be inaccurate, inasmuch as the police, so far from being instructed to ask questions of prisoners, are expressly directed not to do so. The words of the direction are: "The Constabulary are rigidly enjoined not to converse with their prisoners or question them with respect to the offences with which they may be charged."
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENDid you get information from the Lord Chief Baron?
§ MR. JAMES CAMPBELLI have no information except that obtained by reference to the newspapers.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENWill you ask the Lord Chief Baron if he used this language?
§ [No Answer was returned.]