HC Deb 02 July 1908 vol 191 cc979-80
MR. MOORE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state who was responsible for the custody of the buildings in which the Regalia were kept at Dublin Castle; and if it was the fact that no one was allowed to reside in them out of office hours.

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, having regard to his statement that no charge has been made against Sir Arthur Vicars except one of carelessness, he will state whether it is in accordance with precedent and practice to dismiss without pension on an unproved charge of carelessness an official of fifteen years' standing, as Sir Arthur Vicars was dismissed, owing to the loss of the Crown Jewels, the custody of which had only recently been legally vested in him.

I beg further to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the position of the safe in which the Crown Jewels were kept was condemned by the Vice-Regal Commission; whether he is also aware that the position was chosen, not by Sir Arthur Vicars, but by the Board of Works; and whether he will explain why Sir Arthur Vicars was refused another safe by the Board of Works when the existing one was found to be too large to go into the strong room.

And finally may I ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, prior to 1905 the custody of the Crown Jewels was legally vested in the Lord-Lieutenant by the old statutes of the Order of St. Patrick; and whether the custody of them was only made part of Sir Arthur Vicars' duty in the year 1905, subject, however, to the Royal Ordinance of His Majesty William IV. that the chief custody should remain in the hands of the Lord-Lieutenant.

MR. BIRRELL

The subject matter of the four Questions which the hon. and learned Member has placed on the Paper was exhaustively dealt with by the Vice-Regal Commission appointed to investigate the circumstances of the loss of the Regalia of the Order of St. Patrick; and the information asked for may be obtained from the Report of the Commission and the Minutes of Evidence which have been presented to Parliament.

MR. W. MOORE

Is it a fact that Sir Arthur Vicars was dismissed first and tried afterwards?

MR. BIRRELL

I dare say that may be so.