§ 39. Mr. LYNCHasked the Home Secretary how many prisoners from county Clare are still in detention on account of the Dublin rising; whether he can give their names and the charges against then; and whether he can hold out hope of their early return to their families?
Mr. SAMUELOne prisoner from county Clare named Eamon Waldron is still in detention. The order was made on the ground that he is of hostile associations and a member of an organisation called the Irish Volunteers or of an organisation called the Citizen Army, which have promoted armed insurrection against His Majesty, and is reasonably suspected of having favoured, promoted or assisted in armed insurrection against His Majesty. The Advisory Committee have recommended that he should be retained in internment.
Mr. HAZLETONWas there any direct evidence that these men were of hostile association beyond the fact that they belonged to the Irish Volunteers, which, before the rising, was not an unauthorised or illegal body?
Mr. SAMUELI have no doubt there must have been some evidence or the Committee would not have recommended detention. The great majority of those who merely belonged to the Irish Volunteers have been released.