HC Deb 24 May 1916 vol 82 cc2075-6
9. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, in view of the promise given by the military authorities in Dublin to Mrs. Sean MacDermott that the body of her husband would be given to her after his execution, and of the comfort this was to both of them, will he say why that promise was not kept and the body was instead buried in quicklime at the place of execution?

Mr. TENNANT

This promise was never given.

15. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the number and nature of the wounds which James Connolly when he surrendered was found to have sustained; whether the military authorities first decided that he should not be tried until his wounds were healed; whether on the surgeon reporting that Mr. Connolly was dying of his wounds they tried him; whether, being too ill to walk to or stand for his execution, he had to be carried on a stretcher to the place of execution, propped up in a chair there, and shot in that condition; and if he will give the date and place of any precedent for the summary execution of a military prisoner dying of his wounds?

Mr. TENNANT

The hon. Member will see that this question raises a large number of points of detail, and he will not consider it unreasonable that I am not yet in a position to reply.

Mr. GINNELL

Seeing that this question has been long on the Paper, will the right hon. Gentleman say the earliest day upon which he can answer it? Clearly he is not in a position to deny it.

Mr. TENNANT

I neither deny nor affirm. I am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend the information as to what the earliest day will be. I am asking for answers to all these questions at as early a date as possible.

27. Mr. GINNELL

asked whether the late Mr. Sean MacDermott, while in prison, including the night between sentence and execution, was confined in a cell without bed or stretcher of any kind,, with no clothing but what he were on his body, except two extremely small light blankets; whether he had to wrap his boots in one of these to form a pillow; why the priest he specially desired to attend him was not sent for; and whether in all these particulars this was the treatment of all those executed?

Mr. TENNANT

I am not in a position to answer this question.