§ 9. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that Patrick Higgins was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude for an offence committed during the labour war in Dublin in 1913; if he is aware that at that time the workers were engaged in a fight for a living wage and that during the exciting events of that year Higgins was arrested and, on the occasion of his first trial, the jury disagreed and, on being retried at the City Sessions, he was found guilty; if he is aware that at the trial Constable M'Garry stated that Higgins was not the guilty man; and if, having regard to the state of the city at the time and considering the disagreement of the jury, that Higgins has now been in prison almost five years, that his wife and children are being supported by friends, and that Captain Bowen-Coulthurst is now a free man, he will take steps to remove the growing dissatisfaction in Dublin caused by the detention of Higgins by ordering his discharge or recommending the reconsideration of his case
§ Mr. A. SAMUELSPatrick Higgins has been in penal servitude since 15th January, 1915, on conviction of an attempt to murder a police officer, which he has himself admitted. No grounds for his release have been shown since August last, when the 1540 Chief Secretary answered a previous question of the hon. Member on the same subject.