§ 47. Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the findings of the coroner's jury in Dublin on the death of Patrick Bealan and James Healy, that they had died from hæmorrhage resulting from bullet wounds 2264 inflicted by a soldier or soldiers in whose custody they were unarmed and unoffending prisoners, and that the explanation given by the military authorities was very unsatisfactory; what action is to be taken towards those authorities or the men under them; whether the two barrack yards have yet been dug up in search for the bodies of the batch of prisoners which an officer boasted that he and others had potted that morning and that no more would be heard of them; and, if not, whether those yards will be dug up immediately in the presence of some civil witness of repute?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis verdict was given while I was in Ireland, and I had an opportunity of reading the evidence upon which it purported to be founded. No suggestion was made as to the identity of the soldier or soldiers referred to, but the military authorities at once instituted a careful inquiry, which I believe has so far been without result. The answer to the last two parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. GINNELLSeeing that these men have been killed and that the military inquiry has been without result, will the right hon. Gentleman institute an impartial civil inquiry?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope the military inquiry may yet produce results.