§ 13. Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mrs. Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, who arrived in Liverpool on 10th July with a passport granted to her by the British Military Control Department in New York to return home, has been by his orders prohibited from returning to her home in Dublin; and whether he will allow her and her son of nine years now to return to Dublin, their native place?
§ Mr. SAMUELSOn her arrival in Liverpool on 10th July Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington was served with a notice, issued under the Defence of the Realm Regulations by order of the Secretary of State, prohibiting her from going to Ireland. I am informed that her son has arrived in Dublin. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative so far as Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington is concerned.
§ Mr. KINGIs it intended to keep Mrs. Sheehy-Skeffington out of Ireland even if she gives assurances as to good behaviour or guarantees by other persons that she will not cause a breach of the peace?
§ Mr. SAMUELSThe answer, I think, speaks for itself.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs it a fact that this lady received a permit to return home, and now that she has arrived at Liverpool is it intended to keep her there indefinitely? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this really amounts to a sentence of exile, although no offence whatever is alleged against this lady?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is putting an argument in the form of a series of questions.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs it on the initiative of the military authorities in Ireland that Mrs. Skeffington is prohibited from going to Ireland—that is to say, the military, having murdered her husband——[HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question on the Paper has been answered fully. If hon. Members want any further information they can put down a question.
§ 28. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Home Secretary whether Mr. Skeffington, widow of the murdered Irishman, who has been for some months with her son, aged nine, in the United States of America, has been allowed to return to Liverpool, but is prevented from returning to her own country, although permission has been given for her son to return without his mother; if so, what authority is preventing the return of Mrs. Skeffington; and whether the decision to refuse the permission can now be revoked?
§ Sir G. CAVEMrs. Skeffington is prohibited from going to Ireland by an Order under Regulation 14E of the Defence of the Realm Regulations which was made by me on the recommendation of the Irish Government. She was warned before leaving America that she would not be allowed to go to Ireland. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan the right hon. Gentleman say what offence is alleged against this lady and why she is being treated in this way?
§ Sir G. CAVEI think I am justified in accepting the view of the Irish Government that her return to Ireland would be injurious.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan we have some statement from the Irish Government as to the offence alleged against a perfectly honourable lady, who wishes to go back to Ireland and regain her occupation as a teacher of languages?
§ Mr. KINGIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that her being kept out of Ireland is causing great offence?