§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, when the Army Council considered the case of Thomas Leonard, now imprisoned in Maryborough under a life sentence for desertion, the Council was aware that the desertion took place more than a year before the outbreak of the war, and that Leonard, who was employed at the mines, was commandeered by the Boers on the outbreak of the war, and, if not, will he put this fact before the Council and ask for a reconsideration of Leonard's case; whether he can explain what circumstances influenced the decision of the Army Council in ordering the discharge two years ago from Maryborough Prison of a man who belonged to the same regiment as Leonard, and who was sentenced to death for the murder of a soldier in South Africa during the late war, while refusing to discharge Leonard, who has now been over five years in prison for desertion.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI regret that I am unable to add to the information which I have already given to the 1330 hon. Member, both by Answer and by letter, regarding this case. The decision of the Army Council which has been communicated to the hon. Member will be adhered to.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENHas the right hon. Gentleman asked the Council if it was aware at the time of the trial that this man deserted a fear before the war broke out?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERYes, Sir.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENAnd what was the answer?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI sent all the information to the hon. Member.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI have not received that information. I shall put another Question down.