§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a man named John Foster was tried and condemned to death at Cork, on the 22nd March last; that after Foster received sentence he expressed a desire to be visited by a Salvation Army officer; that the officer went to the prison to visit the condemned man, but was refused admission until consent was given by the prison chaplain, which was also refused; if he can state on what grounds was Foster refused his request; and what steps, if any, will be taken to prevent such refusals in future.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) Foster, who was tried and condemned as stated, did not at any time express a desire to be visited by a Salvation Army officer. On 23rd March two female officers of the Salvation Army went to the prison to visit the condemned man, but he declined to see them; and they were so informed. If the prisoner had desired to receive the visit the prison chaplain would have raised no objection.