§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has any, and, if so, what, statement to make in reference to the case of Edward Gallagher, to which his attention was directed on 2nd April, 1908, by the hon. Member for South Donegal, and into which he promised to make inquiries when asked whether he was aware that Gallagher, who served in the Inniskilling Fusiliers from 12th July, 1893, till his discharge on 10th April, 1903, Ms character being described on his discharge paper as very good, had ten years and six months, out of his total service of eleven years and nine months, of continuous service abroad, was on active service in India and South Africa, and the holder of two medals and six clasps, but on discharge only received an allowance of 6d. a day by getting attached to the Army Reserve, and that this allowance must soon cease; and whether, having regard to the fact that Gallagher was in rapid consumption and discharged as incurable from the Ballyshannon Union Hospital, what steps, if any, will the authorities take to secure him from destitution for the remainder of a life which is now drawing to its close from hardships sustained in military service.
§ MR. HALDANEI am afraid the hon. and learned Member has not yet received a communication from the War Office of the 7th instant, to the effect that immediate steps had been taken to inquire into the case, but that in the meantime the man had died. I may add that nothing was known of the case until the hon. Member drew my attention to it.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I put the Question on 2nd April, that on 24th April the man died; that nothing was done for three weeks; also that on the very day the man died of tuberculosis in Ballyshannon Workhouse an official document came from a Board of Officers in Londonderry, ordering him to go there to have his case investigated? Will this encourage enlistment in Ireland? Did I not at the time tell the right hon. 760 Gentleman the man was dying, and did he not promise immediate attention?
§ MR. HALDANEThe Board was got together without delay to investigate the case.