§ 62. Mr. WILLIAM COOTEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to a document issued under the authority of the Reverend Dr. Fogarty, Roman Catholic bishop of Killaloe, and others, which is issued as a prospectus in Ireland inviting subscriptions to a fund of £250,000 for Sinn Fein finance; and, in view of the illegality of this prospectus, have the Government taken any steps to prosecute its promoters?
§ Mr. HENRYThe name of Dr. Fogarty does not appear on the prospectus of the Dail Eireann Loan. It does, however, appear on a list of trustees of the fund. It is impossible to prove the connection of the persons named with the loan, and prosecution is, therefore, not practicable.
§ Mr. COOTEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this fund is operating in Ireland, and that it is illegal on the face of it in that it promises repayment when the Irish Republic is set up? Is he further aware that in many cases 1257 treasurers of this fund have been arrested on suspicion? Why should officials in the lower ranks be arrested, while the trustees at the top are allowed to go free?
§ Mr. HENRYI am aware that people connected with the fund have been not only arrested, but convicted. In the case referred to in the question there is not sufficient evidence at present to justify a prosecution.