HC Deb 24 April 1917 vol 92 cc2222-3
42. Mr. GINNELL

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is customary for the Home Office to use the power of the State to damage the professional prospects of a political opponent who has never been convicted of or charged with any illegality; if so, under what Statute is this done; on what alleged offence was this action of the Home Office in the case of Dr. Patrick MacCartan based; whether he is aware that the English Government in Ireland has declined to take up Dr. MacCartan's challenge to put him on trial even before a jury in one of the counties proposed to be excluded from the operation of the Government of Ireland Act; and the secret charge being disproved, what special compensation doe's the Home Office offer to Dr. MacCartan for its special hostility to him?

Mr. BRACE

The answer to the first question is in the negative, and the others, therefore, do not arise. I would refer the hon. Member for the facts to the answer which I gave to his question on the 4th instant.

Mr. GINNELL

In view of the fact that Dr. MacCartan has just been elected to a professional position in his own county, will the Home Office not release him to enable him to take up that position by returning to his own county—Tyrone?