§ 16. Mr. SHEEHANasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that auxiliary postman James M'Sweeney, of Carriganimmy, county Cork, is the local parish secretary of the secret sectarian and political order known as the Board of Erin, A.O.H.; that this man is frequently guilty of neglect of duty in the delivery of letters by attending funerals of the members of his order during official hours, and that meetings of this secret society have been held in the Carriganimmy Post Office, belonging to his sister; and, seeing that M'Sweeney organised a political invasion from Macroom and Ballyvourney and other outside districts to the Carriganimmy Catholic Church on Sunday, 23rd March, which nearly led to a riot in the precincts of the church, will he say whether it is with his sanction that a Post Office official organises church parades of a political nature which are offensive and provocative to the majority of the people of the district?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)I have made further special inquiry into this case through an officer unconnected with the district, and have obtained a statement, among others, from the chairman of the local branch of the All-for-Ireland League. This gentleman states that he has never heard of any meetings of the Ancient Order of Hibernians being held at the Carriganimmy Post Office, and does not believe that such meetings have been held there. He also states that he never heard of the postman Mr. McSwiney doing any of the things mentioned in the question, and that there is nothing against him so far as he knows. The sub-mistress and the postman categorically deny the charges made, and the whole of the evidence, which has been obtained from several reliable quarters, corroborates their statements. There is not a single adverse entry in the postman's official record during the whole of his twelve and a half years' service, and I am satisfied that there is no foundation whatever for the charges made against this useful officer of the Department or against the sub-post-mistress of the village.
§ Mr. SHEEHANDid this officer himself deny that he was absent at any time during official hours as stated in the question?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe whole matter was inquired into and all the points were specifically put. I do not think that point was omitted so far as I remember.
§ Mr. SHEEHANAm I to understand that he has given a denial that he was absent during official hours, because, if so, I can produce evidence that he was?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI understand there has been such a denial.
§ Mr. SHEEHANDid the right hon. Gentleman inquire as to the incident at the church, and whether this officer organised an invasion of a political kind?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have made careful inquiry into that and he certainly did not organise it. A number of people belonging to the local branch of this society attended mass early in the morning and this postman was among them. I understand it was not in official hours, he was not in uniform, and he took no part in organising it.