§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if it be a fact that, in the inquiry on the death by shooting of the 12-year-old girl, Annie O'Neill, in Dublin, a coroner's inquest was refused, and whether, at the military court, the bereaved mother, who wished to be legally represented by her solicitor, was refused this request, and her solicitor denied admission to the court?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODA Court of Inquiry in lieu of inquest was held in this case. The court was held yesterday, and the proceedings have not yet been confirmed, and in the meantime I am not in a position to give any information as to the alleged refusal of legal representation or as to the evidence which was given at the inquiry. With regard to the last part of the question, I can only repeat what I stated in the House yesterday, that so long as the armed forces of the Crown are liable to attack by assassins, unfortunate tragedies such as the present one are inevitable.
§ Mr. O'CONNORIs it not a fact that the statements which are contained in my question with regard to the refusal to admit the solicitor to the court have been published in practically all the Press of the country, and how is it that the right hon. Gentleman is not able to obtain information about a fact which is known to everyone in the world except, apparently, himself?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI got the hon. Member's Private Notice question just-after 12 o'clock, and wired over at once and asked for a detailed answer; and I have read the answer I have received from Dublin Castle. I regret that it is not the fullest posible answer to the hon. Member, but I have done the best I can.
§ Mr. DEVLINAre these Courts of Inquiry open to the Press?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe rule about Courts of Inquiry held in lieu of inquest is that whether they are open to the Press or the public is a matter for the discretion of the court, and the reason that moves the court to make them open or to close them is the safety of the witnesses.
§ Mr. DEVLINHow would the safety of the witnesses be involved in a case of this character, where this little girl was murdered—killed—[Interruption.] I am asking the Chief Secretary and not you (Sir W. Joynson-Hicks). May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how the safety of witnesses would be involved in the opening of this Court to the Press and the public, so that the public and the Press may clearly understand who was to blame for the killing of this child?
§ Mr. O'CONNORMay I ask whether, in the case of the inquiry with regard to Mrs. Quinn, the other unfortunate victim of these events, in a part of the country where there has, I believe, been some recent disturbance, the public, including the legal representatives, I think, of the husband of the woman who had been killed, were admitted, and what can be the distinction between an inquiry with regard to this girl and an inquiry into the death of Mrs. Quinn, where in most cases all the evidence must be given by persons connected with the unfortunate woman or child who have been killed?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHHow does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile the answer he has just given with the assurance he has already given to the House of Commons, that
there is always an inquest into the death of a person found dead in Ireland. I will see that the inquest is held in public, as most inquests are; in fact, as far as I know, all inquests are held in public.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe hon. Member (Mr. Devlin) raises the question of a military inquiry in lieu of an inquest at Dublin, and the hon. Member (Mr. O'Connor) raises the question of a military inquiry in lieu of an inquest in Galway. They were two different Courts.
§ Mr. O'CONNORThat was not my point.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI follow your point. My answer is generally that these military inquiries in lieu of inquests are held in public. They can always be held 1689 in public at the discretion of the officer of the Court. I cannot and will not interfere with the discretion of these officers if they see fit to exclude the public, but I am certain they never exclude the public without good reason, involving the security of the lives of witnesses.
§ Mr. DEVLINAre we to understand that when soldiers are charged after killing innocent civilians the only tribunal before which these charges are investigated is a military Court, and the military Court decides that the Press is not to be admitted?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe answer is No.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my question? Does he still adhere to the statement he made in this House three weeks ago that there is always a public inquest into every case of a person found dead in Ireland?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI can only repeat what I have said. In certain parts of Ireland there are still inquests, mainly held by a Coroner with a jury. In other parts, for reasons of disturbance, and the certainty of not getting an impartial jury, we have set up, according to the Act passed by Parliament, military Courts of inquiry. In these I have every confidence.
§ Mr. DEVLINWe do not care whether you have or not.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODBut I think the House of Commons cares.