§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR(by Private Notice) asked the Attorney-General for 1387 Ireland whether he could state the present position of several prisoners in Mountjoy goal; whether it is true that many of them have gone on hunger strike and are in danger of death; how many of these prisoners are under sentence, and how many are simply detained on suspicion?
§ The ATTORNEY - GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Denis Henry)I have only just received notice of the question and it is impossible for me in the time at my disposal to ascertain the information for all my hon. Friend asks. I should be obliged if he would repeat the question to-morrow.
§ Mr. O'CONNORI admit that the notice is short: but I gave in the question early in the day, and it did not reach my right hon. Friend. He will see the urgency of the matter in face of the reports in the newspapers that many of these unfortunate men are at the present time in a deadly peril of death.
§ Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYHave some decency.
§ Mr. O'CONNORI will take no notice of the interruptions. I do not think they add to the dignity of the House. I will only ask my right hon. Friend, in view of the fact that many of these men are, according to the reports in the newspapers, in such a dangerous state of health that their relatives have been called upon to visit them, whether he will get an answer as early as possible. Perhaps he will be able to get the answer later in the evening.