§ 45. Mr. PATRICK MEEHANasked the Prime Minister whether a man named Frowley, who was arrested at Wolfhill, Queen's County, during the recent disturbance in Ireland and deported to Perth Prison, has yet been released; and, if not, will he state when the investigations into his case will be completed?
§ 69. Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say on what grounds Messrs. Hubert Wilson, of Longford; Paul Cusack, of Granard; and John Cawley, of Granard, are still detained in Frongoch Internment Camp; whether he is aware that neither of these three gentlemen had any part in the late rebellion; whether, in the case of Mr. Cawley, who was manager of Granard Creamery, he is aware that the business of the creamery has suffered; and will he now direct the release of all three?
Mr. SAMUELThe cases referred to are under consideration by the Advisory Committee, who are dealing with all cases as rapidly as possible.
§ 78. Mr. FIELDasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists respecting the continued detention of persons arrested on suspicion; and 321 whether he will press the examination of those who are detained, so that innocent persons may be released at once?
Mr. SAMUELThe Advisory Committee have now examined more than a third of the cases of the interned Irish prisoners, and I received yesterday a list of those whose release they recommend. I understand that the Committee have unanimously arrived at the opinion that a large number of the men who took part in the rising in Dublin had been successfully kept in ignorance by their leaders as to the enterprise in which they were to be engaged, and that it is the case that they thought they were being called out on Easter Monday for a route march such as they had often previously undertaken. Once embarked in the rising they were unable or unwilling to draw back. Taking into account these circumstances and the fact that the men have now been in detention for a period of nearly three months, the Committee, after an examination of each case individually, recommend the release, out of those whose cases have so far been considered, of 460 prisoners, and this recommendation will be carried into effect.
Mr. SAMUELNearly one-third of the whole number. A certain number are still under consideration; they have been partially considered, but not finally.