§ 63. Mr. P. WHITEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state how many Irish prisoners interned in this country were brought before the Advisory Committee; how many released; how many not released; and whether he will state the procedure of the Committee, if charges were made against the prisoners and supported by sworn evidence, or whether the onus was thrown upon the prisoners of exculpating themselves from any complicity in the rebellion by their statements?
Mr. SAMUELThe Advisory Committee inform me that 1,841 persons have been brought before them, and of these they have advised the release of 1,272; 1,014 of these have actually been released, and the releases of the remainder will be completed in the course of a day or two. In 569 cases they have advised that the prisoners should remain in internment. As regards the procedure of the Committee, I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to the hon. Members for East Mayo and North Kildare on the 4th and 5th July.
§ Mr. BYRNEWill those interned be allowed to appeal to the Civil Court, and will they have legal assistance?
Mr. SAMUELAppeal is allowed under the terms of the Regulation 14 (b), and the procedure laid down under that Regulation will be followed.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYHave they power to appeal to a Civil Court under that Regulation?
§ Mr. FLAVINCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether these prisoners who came before the Police Court were again taken back to Frongoch, or where are they?
Mr. SAMUELSome of them—the majority of them—are at Frongoch, a small number are at the Reading place of internment, and three of the ladies are at Aylesbury.
§ Mr. FLAVINWill the right hon. Gentleman see that the military authorities communicate with the prisoners' relatives, who are in an unsettled state of mind, because the whole of their correspondence sent to Frongoch has been returned to them?
§ Mr. BYRNEWill the right hon. Gentleman say why the Government have persisted in refusing to give justice to these men?