§ 12. Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary for War if he will say where Messrs. James N. Nolan, James MacLoughlin, Thomas MacLoughlin, Bernard Maguire, John Daly, Thomas Gilgun, and Bryan Gilgun, arrested by the military in North Leitrim, now are; no charge having been made against them, and nothing illegal found in their possession, for what supposed offence are they prisoners; and whether they will be immediately released or given an opportunity of meeting in a Civil Court any charge that can be made against them?
§ Mr. TENNANTLists are published periodically in newspapers giving places of detention of all prisoners. All such cases are now being investigated as rapidly as possible.
§ 16. Mr. LOUGHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether two citizens, both Protestant Unionists belonging to the landowning class, namely, Octavius Hardy and Joseph Hardy, were arrested at their residence at Rathmines during the recent disturbances in Dublin, and that some old fowling - pieces which were taken from their house were found to be utterly useless and returned in a few days, and notwithstanding this the gentlemen themselves were detained in custody for a fortnight; whether for three days and three nights of that period they were confined in a room at Richmond Barracks with about forty other prisoners, most of whom had been taken from the slums of Dublin, and that during the period mentioned they were left unprovided with sleeping accommodation or bedding or bedclothing of any description, and were obliged to sleep without any covering, in company with the other prisoners, on the floor of the room aforesaid; whether the Messrs. Hardy were then marched through the streets of Dublin in custody and placed at night on board a cattle-boat, with some 300 other prisoners, for conveyance to England; that they were then placed in solitary confinement for about ten days in Wakefield Gaol, from which they were ultimately released in a bad state of health, without reparation or apology for the treatment to which they have been subjected; 2539 whether, during the time of their incarceration, testimony as to their character, social position, and non-complicity in the rebellion had been tendered to the authorities both in London and Dublin and substantial security for their appearance whenever called upon was offered by relatives, who were denied all access to them or knowledge of their whereabouts; and whether, as these offers have been refused consideration and Messrs. Hardy were held in custody until after a question as to their fate had been asked in Parliament, he will say what compensation it is proposed to offer them for the damage which they have suffered?
§ Mr. TENNANTI answered a question regarding these two men on 18th May, by stating that inquiry was being made, and I received, a day or two ago, information that both men were released when it was discovered that they had been arrested by mistake. In the meantime my right hon. Friend's question has swollen to double its previous dimensions, and it now includes a large number of new points. I fear, therefore, I must plead for time to make further inquiries. I would seriously ask my right hon. Friend whether he considers that any good purpose is served now that the men have been released, which, I think, is the main thing he desired?
§ Mr. LOUGHOn the contrary, I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will not take steps, especially in cases like this, where evidence of the innocence of these gentlemen was offered, both in England and in Ireland, to clear the gaols of these innocent people who had been so harshly treated?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat is quite a different question.
§ Mr. TENNANTMy right hon. Friend is surely aware, from all the answers which have been given by the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, and myself, that the most urgent steps are being taken—
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is no good my right hon. Friend shaking his head. If he would like to know, I will give him the figures. Up to now 339 have been released.
§ Mr. TENNANTAbout 2,000, I believe. I have received a statement to-day to say that another thirteen have been released.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENIs it not now confessed that these mistakes—many of them are very gross mistakes—are numbered by hundreds?
§ Mr. TENNANTOf course, if we were aware of mistakes, the men would be released at once. They have been released in all cases where a mistake has been discovered. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that every step is being taken to try and discover such cases.
§ Mr. KINGIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister stated that 150 cases a day were being dealt with, and how then does it arise that only 339 have been set free?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe rest have been detained.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are hundreds of cases of Irish prisoners detained in this country whose cases have not been inquired into?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am aware that that is a necessary concomitant of the situation.