§ 66. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mrs. Ellen Quinn was shot by uniformed men who were passing her house at Kiltartan, near Gort, County Galway, in a motor lorry on 1st November last; whether she died two hours afterwards; whether she had a baby in her arms when struck by the bullet; whether any inquest or court of inquiry has been held; and whether any record is kept of motor-lorry patrols by armed police or military in Ireland?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Lieut. - Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood)A military court of inquiry into this very sad and regrettable occurrence was held on the 4th instant, and gave the following verdict. The court having considered the evidence, and the medical evidence, are of opinion that Mrs. Eileen Quinn, of Corker, Gort, in the County of Galway, mot her death, due to shock and hæmorrhage, caused by a bullet wound in the groin fired by some 1887 occupant of a police car proceeding along the Gort and Ardrahan road on The 1st November, 1920. They are of opinion that the shot was one of the shots fired as a precautionary measure, and, in view of the facts, record a verdict "Death by Misadventure." Mrs. Quinn had a baby in her arms when struck by the bullet. The last part of the hon. and gallant Member's question raises a point with which I dealt very fully in replying to a supplementary question put to me by him on the 4th instant.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, firstly, whether he is aware that the country round the scene of this death was quite open, and, secondly, whether he knows that Mrs. Quinn was sitting on the wall bounding the road, and in full view of the road, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI believe that Mrs. Quinn was so seated, but I cannot consider that any road in a disturbed area—and this was a disturbed area—is a road on which the troops or the police are not justified in taking every precaution for their own safety.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman has atisfied himself that this sad case has been sifted to the bottom—
§ Sir H. GREENWOODYes.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAnd is he aware that the county inspector of police—the head constable of Gort—refused to take the depositions of Mrs. Quinn before she died, and was not called as a witness before the Court?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have no knowledge of that myself. That may or may not be true, but I should be surprised if any head constable refused to do what he was told by his superior officer.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHe was the superior officer.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIf some person outside the police force or the soldiers wanted him to do this or that, he is not compelled or expected to do it.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the head constable was called in 1888 when the incident occurred but refused to take the deposition of the dying woman?