§ 22. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the circumstances of the abduction by the police of a child of eleven years, Timothy Connors, from Greenane, county Tipperary, to Dublin; whether he is aware that on notice of issue by the High Court of a writ of habeas corpus the child was surreptitiously returned to his parents, and that an affidavit was then sworn by the Assistant Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary that the child was not in his custody or charge; whether he is aware that the Lord Chief Justice severely censured the affidavit as lacking in candour and disrespectful to the Court; whether he can say how such conduct can be reconciled with the statement that the child was arrested in the interests of justice; what action has been taken by the Government in respect of the affidavit sworn by the Assistant Inspector-General; whether the Assistant Inspector-General is still in office; and whether the costs of the legal proceedings will be defrayed by the Assistant Inspector-General or by the taxpayers? Perhaps the Attorney-General can answer part of this question, at any rate.
§ Mr. SAMUELSI shall be glad to give my hon. Friend all the information I have. I have read myself the newspaper report, but I cannot recollect accurately the statement in that report on the motion for habeas corpus. I shall try to meet my hon. Friend and hope to give him the facts.
§ Mr. DEVLINHas the right hon. and learned Gentleman read this statement made by the Lord Chief Justice?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI said that I had read the newspaper report, but cannot accurately recollect it and I want to see it before I answer.
§ Mr. DEVLINIn view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman read that statement—a very important statement on the administration of the law in Ireland—what has he done with regard to it?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better wait for a complete answer, when the information is obtained.