Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that for the past two years a criminal conspiracy has existed on the Island of Aran, directed against one Roger Derrane and anyone who associated or in any way supported him, and that this conspiracy arose immediately after the establishment on the island of a branch of the United Irish League, of which the Reverend Father Farragher is president; whether, as a result of the working of this conspiracy, one Colman McDonagh has been boycotted, with his aged mother and a young family of children; whether this Colman McDonagh, having been employed in 1909 and 1910 by the Congested Districts Board in charge of an ice hulk in Aran was this year refused employment and the secretary of the branch of the United Irish League appointed in his stead; whether he is aware that on the 16th July McDonagh attended a meeting of the branch of the United Irish League in Aran to endeavour to get the boycott removed, but was turned out by the president, the Reverend Father Farragher, 994 that McDonagh was attacked by a mob in Achill and badly beaten, and that certain of his assailants were prosecuted by the police; whether he is also aware that on the night of the 24th July McDonagh attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself in his own house, but was rescued by a police patrol; whether he has now been committed to the criminal lunatic asylum at Ballinasloe; and what steps the Irish Government propose to take to bring to justice those persons in Aran who have driven this man to the asylum and left his aged mother and young children to the mercy of the conspiracy?
§ Mr. BIRRELLRoger Derrane was sentenced to three years' penal servitude in 1908 for conspiring to blow up the priest's house at Kilronan. Since his release he has been boycotted, but this had no connection with the establishment of a branch of the United Irish League, which had existed before his conviction. Colman McDonagh has also been boycotted. He was employed by the Congested Districts Board during the Spring Fishing of 1910, but the Board did not renew his engagement in 1911. The Board cannot say whether his successor is connected with the United Irish League. I am informed that McDonagh attended the meeting referred to and was asked to leave, which he did. On 30th June, McDonagh was followed through the village of Kilronan by a crowd and was assaulted by two boys, who were prosecuted and punished. On 24th July McDonagh attempted to commit suicide by hanging, but was rescued by a police patrol. He was committed to the District Lunatic Asylum, but has since been released. The police take all possible steps for the safety of these men, but there is not sufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution for criminal conspiracy.
§ Mr. STEPHEN GWYNNIs there any authorisation for the suggestion that McDonagh was dismissed by the Congested Districts Board at the suggestion of the United Irish League; and is it not rather the inference from the facts stated in the question that he was dismissed because he was a man of unsound mind?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI can certainly answer for the Congested Districts Board. The only reason why he was dismissed was that he was not a proper person to discharge the duties of his office.
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt may be that they thought then that he was well qualified, and subsequently thought he was not.
Captain CRAIGDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the man was sent away on account of his mental condition?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, I do not say so.