§ 52. Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the hon. Member for North Westmeath is still imprisoned in Mount joy Prison; whether on admission he went on hunger-strike; what was the object of his hunger-strike, whether he has been granted conditions at first refused to him and has now ceased his hunger-strike; and, if so, why the conditions of his imprisonment were at first such as to necessitate this protest on his part before they were ameliorated?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. I am informed that the hon. Member for North Westmeath announced his intention of going on hunger-strike in. order to shame the Irish Government, and not because of the conditions under which he was detained. Ameliorations of prison treatment have been granted in this case, though the prisoner was not entitled to them.
§ 53. Mr. KINGasked whether any per sons arrested on or since the 16th May in Ireland have gone on hunger-strike; if so, who are they; and what is their pre sent position?
§ Mr. BRACEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. If the hon. Member refers to Irish prisoners interned in England, no such case has arisen.
§ 56. Mr. KINGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that under an Order signed by himself on the 17th May Constance Marckiewicz and M. Gonne M'Bride were arrested in order to be interned at Frongoch, and that, contrary to the terms of the Order, they are held prisoners in Holloway; and whether, seeing that the express direction and intention of the Order have been disregarded, he will withdraw the Order, or order them to be released?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but, by subsequent Orders, the prisoners mentioned in the question were transferred to their present place of detention.