MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what were the offences for which the seven prisoners were convicted by Court-Martial in connection with the South African War, who were confined in Irish prisons and recently discharged; what were the grounds upon which they were discharged; and how much of their respective sentences had each served.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe detailed statistics required are too long to read out to the House, but I will hand them to the hon. Member for his information.
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENCannot the right hon. Gentleman state the charges and how much of the sentences was served.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThere are two pages of details. I do not think the House would deem it convenient to have them read.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman can give any Answer he pleases.
§ MR. SPEAKERIt is not a question of right. It is for the right hon. Gentleman to exercise his judgment on the matter.
§ Appended is the Answer referred to:—
Name. | Charges upon which Convicted. | Sentence and Date. | |
William Sherry | (1) When on active service—drunkenness. | 5 years penal servitude on 12th February 1901. | Released on 12th May, 1902, on completion of fifteen months of sentence, by order of the Commander-in-chief. |
(2) Shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm. | |||
James Halvey | (1) Striking superior officer on active service. | 7 years penal servitude on 27th May, 1901. | Commuted by Commander-in-Chief two years hard labour in June, 1902; released on 13th October, 1902, on his embarkation for India after completeing sixteen and a half months. |
(2) Violence to superior officer on active service. | |||
Thomas Ryan | (1) Releasing a prisoner from lawful custody. | 5 years penal servitude on 28th May, 1901. | Commuted by Commander-in-Chief to eighteen months hard labour in June, 1902; sentence expired 27th November, 1902. |
(2) Insubordinate language to superior officer on active service. | |||
(3) Inciting mutiny | |||
Thomas Coughlan | (1) Murder | Death. 28th June, 1901. | Commuted to penal servitude for life; released on 21st December, 1903, by Commander-in-Chief after completing two and a half years in prison, it being considered by the Judge Advocate-General that the case was one in which a verdict of manslaughter might properly have been found, there being an absence of motive. |
John McDonagh | (1) Housebreaking (2 charges). | 3 years penal servitude on 18th April, 1902. | Released on 17th October, 1903, on completion of eighteen months of sentence, by order of Commander-in-Chief, |
Martin Kavanagh | (1) Receiving stolen goods (2 charges). | 3 years penal servitude on 19th April, 1902. | Released on 17th October, 1903, on completion of one year of sentence, by order of the Commander-in-Chief. |
Charles Kavanagh | (1) Insubordinate language and striking his superior officer. | 5 years penal servitude on 22nd November, 1902. | Commuted to one and a half years hard labour on 11th February, 1903, by order of the Commander-in-Chief. Sentence expired 21st October, 1904. |