§ MR. J. P. FARRELLTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Joseph Rhatigan, of the 14th Company Royal Engineers, who was attested at Clonmel on the 14th May, 1904, and discharged at Clones on the 16th July, 1906, as medically unfit for further service, after a service of two years and 59 days; whether he is aware that Rhatigan, in the discharge of his duties contracted tubercle of the lung which led to his discharge; whether it is customary that in such circumstances a gratuity of some kind would be given to this man, to enable his parents, who are poor people, to bear the cost of his illness and have him properly medically attended to; and will he now direct that this man's case be reconsidered and a grant made to him to enable his parents to send him to a sanatorium, and thus give him the only chance for his life he can get, having regard to the nature of his ailment.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This man was discharged after the service stated in consequence of tubercle of the lung, which, according to the medical authorities, was not caused by his service as a soldier. Under these circumstances the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital decided that Rhatigan was not entitled to a pension from Army funds. The regulations preclude the grant of any gratuity to him other than that referred to in Article 1123 (ii), Fay Warrant.