§ 6. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will cause inquiry to be made into the case of James Reen; if this man had twenty-three years' service in the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, Ireland, and never during his time had a complaint against him; if on 3rd February, 1915, another person, knowing Reen was an Irish speaker, made an unprovoked attack on him and the Irish language, which was resented by Reen, who forcibly removed him from the railway premises, where he had no right to be; if, owing to statements made to the military authorities by this man, Reen on 18th February received a deportment 1129 order to leave the town and his employment within forty-eight hours; if he got no trial of any sort to defend himself, and had to leave his employment, leaving his wife and seven small children unprovided for; if Reen had on two occasions to report the man for stealing, and that he has since been dismissed for robbery; if malice was shown to Reen by this man; whether the Government were satisfied with the evidence of a man of such character; and if he will give Reen a judicial trial or court-martial, which he is willing to take, in order to refute the evidence of his opponent, and thus clear his character and be reinstated in his employment?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that there was a dispute between the head porter at Clonmel Railway Station and a carrier in the early part of 1915, and that shortly afterwards the head porter was ordered to leave Clonmel by the competent military authority. I am not aware that he has made any application for revision of this direction
§ Mr. LYNCHHas my right hon. Friend looked into the question from the point of view of getting to know whether it was on account of his having spoken in Irish that he was treated in this manner?
§ Mr. DUKEI think it is quite impossible that anybody in authority in Ireland would snake such a ridiculous suggestion.