§ 19. Mr. KILEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether at every inquiry held into alleged reprisals in Ireland there has been present some person with legal training or qualifications; and, if not, in the case of how many inquiries such a person has been present?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs I have already stated, the inquiries unto such 1345 allegations are conducted by responsible police or military officers, upon whose findings I can rely.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman considers that courts of inquiry into murders, presided over by majors in the Army as senior officers, and into alleged excesses by troops are competent courts on which we may rely?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do.
§ 20. Mr. BRIANTasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many cases of alleged reprisals have been brought to his notice; in how many cases an inquiry has been initiated; and in how many cases such inquiry has been concluded?
§ 64. Mr. GLANVILLEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of alleged reprisals into which inquiries have been held; and whether he will publish the result of these inquiries?
§ 72 and 73. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether he has any information which he can communicate to the House with regard to police or military excesses at Ballymote, Cullen, Ballingare and Galway on 2nd October; at Lacklagh, Turloughmore and Tuam on 4th October; in Cork on 5th October; in Meelick, Mount Bellew, Gort, Cloondara, Tuam, Sheverie, Bally-boy, Ballymoe, Castlereagh, Williamstown and Ballintober on 8th October; in Kilhimo, Pallashenry, Pike, Cork, Dublin and Drum on 9th October; at Clifden on 10th October; at Clifden on 13th October; in Athlone and Dublin on 16th October; in Corofin, Cummer, Anbally, Ballin-tubber and Tralee on 17th October; in Tipperary and Mallow on 18th October;
(2) whether any official inquiry has been made into the atacks made by uniformed servants of the Crown, accompanied by wrecking, looting, arson, and, in some cases, murder, on the following towns: Fermoy in September; Kinsale and Cork in November; Thurles in January; Thurles, Cork and Dublin in March; Burladuff, Kilcommon and Limerick in April; Limerick, Thurles, Bantry, Kilcommon and Kilmallock in May; Middleton, Limerick, Bantry, Fermoy, Lismore, Newcastle West and Kilcommon in June; Limerick, Union Hall, Middleton, Bally-landers, Tralee, Arklow, Galbally, Cork, 1346 Ballagh, Emly, Tuam, Enniscorthy, Ballina, Leap, Caltra, Upperchurch and Tipperary in July; Castlerca, Doon, Rosegreen, Tralee, Kildorrey, Enniscorthy, Swords, Limerick, Tralee, Templemore, Castleiny, Loughmore, Killee, Bantry, Oranmore, Glengariffe, Dundalk, Kill, Knocklong, Shanagolden, Naas and Cove in August; and Ballaghaderin, Inniscarra, Tullow, Galway, Salthill, Carrick-on-Shannon, Tuam, Balbriggan, Drum-shambo, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Milltown Malbay, Ballinamore, Athlone, Killorglin, Trim, Kilfenora, Silvermines, Cork, Mallow, Liscarrol, Dunkerrin, Clonmore, Ballyshannon, Listowel, Ballygar, Drimo-league, Tuam, Galway, Roscrea, Tubber-curry, Ballyara, Achonry, Kilshenane and Gort in September; by whom were such inquiries conducted; whether any Reports have been made; and whether signed Reports will be called for and embodied in a Parliamentary Paper?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs I have already stated in the course of recent debates, full and careful inquiry is made into every allegation of misconduct against the armed forces of the Crown in Ireland. The inquiries are conducted by senior officers, and the results are, embodied in signed reports. A number of such inquiries are still proceeding, and I am not yet in a position to furnish the House with a complete detailed account on the subject, but I hope to do so at a later date.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman answer how many cases have been brought to his notice, and in how many cases have inquiries been initiated?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am unable to do so, principally because of the short notice given by those who ask the questions.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes the right hon. Gentleman, as Irish Secretary, not go to the Irish Office and get the totals of the inquiries which are being held either on one side or the other, or are we to understand that the information is not got until he telegraphs specially to Ireland?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODMy hon. Friend is not putting the case exactly as it exists. I do my best to get detailed information for the House, but on a long series of questions affecting most disturbed parts of Ireland I cannot on short notice give details.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHDid the right hon. Gentleman say he was endeavouring to answer questions Nos. 72 and 73?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI ventured to say that.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer Question No. 73—whether any reports have been made with regard to the outrages mentioned in that question, and some of which took place twelve months ago, and whether any reports in those instances will be called for and embodied in Parliamentary Papers?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI repeat the last part of my answer:
A number of such inquiries are still proceeding, and I am not yet in a position to furnish the House with a complete detailed account on the subject, but I hope to do so at a later date.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHSurely the right hon. Gentleman is in a position to tell us whether any reports have been received as to the wrecking, looting, and murders which took place twelve months ago.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have said so.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHCan we have those Reports? Are they going to be issued as Parliamentary Papers?
§ Mr. RONALD McNEILLIs it in order, to put as a supplementary question a question which appears on the Paper?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHThe Chief Secretary said he was answering the question to which I am putting a supplementary.
§ 22. Mr. CHARLES WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will initiate prosecutions for perjury against all Irishmen who have embodied in sworn affidavits to the effect that they have seen outrages deliberately committed by the forces of the Crown?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo, Sir.
§ Mr. WHITEIs so little weight attached to sworn affidavits that no action is taken to find out whether they are true?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI cannot answer a general philosophic inquiry of that kind.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have answered the hon. Member's question—No, Sir.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhen these affidavits are made, particularly as in the case of Abbeydorney, docs the right hon. Gentleman take any steps, or his representatives, to see the people and bring them before some Court and find out if they have committed perjury or not?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIt is not my business to try people for perjury. I am very much relieved that it is not.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThat is not my business.