§ 18. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether the military authorities administering martial law in Ireland have yet allowed any civil investigation of the picking of pockets of prisoners and of the persons shot and buried surreptitiously, and of the looting done in houses under pretext of searching them; whether property so acquired, including table linen and ladies' dresses used to carry smaller articles, is deemed to belong to the individual soldier taking it; whether the property so taken from the houses of Madame O'Rahilly and Countess Plunkett has yet been restored; and whether the soldiers who took the property are being detained in Dublin for a public civil inquiry into such matters?
§ Mr. FORSTEREvery case of alleged loss of property from houses entered by the troops has been carefully inquired into. I am informed that there is no ground for the allegations made in the question.
§ Mr. GINNELLIs it not the fact that the soldiers who went to these houses tied up small articles of value in ladies' dresses and tablecloths, and carried the bundles away on their shoulders?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir; I am told that is not so.