§ 57. Sir E. GOULDINGasked the Prime Minister whether he can now state, in regard to the recent rebellion in Ireland, full particulars of the crimes for which the fifteen men who were executed had been found guilty?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir; a statement is in course of preparation, and will be presented to the House.
§ Sir E. GOULDINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a growing misunderstanding in the United States?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is why I am anxious that this statement should be presented at the earliest possible date.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the statement comprise the proceedings and evidence before the court-martial?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say that.
§ 66 and 67. Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the Prime Minister (1) if he ascertained the grounds put forward by the military in Dublin for shooting without trial Mr. Dixon, a Scotsman, editor of the "Eye Opener"; is it alleged that he or his paper supported the Sinn Fein party; was his portmanteau obtained by the soldiers and flung into the premises where he was arrested to give rise to the suspicion that he lodged there; were these the premises of Alderman James Kelly, which were bombed and fired into by the soldiers and their proprietor arrested under the mistaken idea that he was Alderman Thomas Kelly; and (2) what grounds are alleged by the military for the shooting without trial of Mr. McIntyre, editor of the "Searchlight," an organ opposed to the Larkin party and not in sympathy with the Sinn Feiners?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis matter is the subject of inquiry by a court-martial in Dublin which will be opened to-morrow, and it is not desirable to make any statement at this time.
§ Mr. HEALYPersonally we are indebted to the Prime Minister for his action, but I beg to state that we have no confidence whatever in court-martials or in Sir John Maxwell.
§ 74. Mr. GINNELLasked whether any medical or surgical examination was made of the wound from which P. H. Pearse, commander of the Irish Volunteers in the recent insurrection, suffered at the time of his surrender; if so, will he state the nature of the wound; whether the execution of wounded prisoners after trial and sentence by court-martial is the usual practice in the English Army; and, if not, on what precedent was that course followed in this case?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe hon. Gentleman will rejoice to learn that P. H. Pearse was not wounded.
§ 83. Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked what ground there was for the execution of Cornelius Colbert, a native of Athea, county Limerick; whether his youthful age was taken into account by the military authorities before sentence; whether he was a signatory of the republican proclamation; and whether he had the ministration of a priest before his death?
§ Mr. TENNANTCornelius Colbert was a captain in the rebel army. Every circumstance connected with the case, including that mentioned by the hon. Member, was given due consideration before the sentence of death was confirmed. Colbert was not a signatory of the republican proclamation. The ministration of a priest was given in this case, as in others, before the sentence was carried into effect.
§ Mr. GINNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman verify or contradict the statement in reference to who gave the order to fire at this execution?
§ Mr. TENNANTObviously by the officer in command.
§ Mr. GINNELLWas it not given by Colbert himself?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat I do not know.
§ 91. Mr. HEALYasked if General Maxwell has called for any report on the murders of persons unconnected with the rebellion in North King Street, Dublin; will he ascertain if, at the Louth Dairy, kept by Mrs. Mary Lawless, 27, North King Street, from which no sniping or offence was directed at the military, a number of soldiers came to search the premises and, having turned Mrs. Lawless into the street, arrested her son and three other Louth men, named Finegan, Hoey, and M'Cartney; whether a sentry was then placed on the premises; were these four men shot in the room and buried in the yard by the soldiers, no arms being found in the house or on the persons of the prisoners; were the bodies dug up by Mrs. Lawless and found to have been stripped of watches, rings, and money; if it is alleged that the troops were fired on from the house, why was Mrs. Lawless not arrested or her son given a trial; to what regiment did the sentry placed on the premises belong; and what opportunity will be given of establishing or investigating the facts by some independent authority?
§ Mr. TENNANTA court of inquiry is being held to investigate the occurrence and all the circumstances of the case.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill it be an open Court, to which the public will be admitted?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI had better have notice of that question.