§ 36. Commander WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether any of the officers or soldiers concerned in the incidents connected with the murder of Mr. Sheehy Skeffington, Mr. Dickson, and Mr. M'Intyre would have been liable to punishment under the Army Act if they had refused to carry into effect any of the orders given to them by Captain Bowen-Colthurst in relation to those murders?
§ Mr. FORSTERWithout knowing the particular incident to which the hon. Member refers, it is difficult to furnish him with the information he desires. An officer or soldier, however, is only liable to punishment under the Army Act for refusing to obey a lawful command, and for a definition as to what is a lawful command I would refer the hon. Member to note 6 to Section 9 of the Army Act in the Manual of Military Law, 1914.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the hon. Gentleman inform the House why the soldiers or officers, as the case may be, who murdered these three unarmed civilians have not been put on trial under the ordinary law?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of that question; it is fresh matter.