§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether at the military court which inquired into the death of the 12-year-old girl, Annie O'Neill, in Dublin, the bereaved mother, who wished to be legally represented by her solicitor, was refused this request, and her solicitor denied admission to the court; and whether the officer who shot the girl brought in any evidence to prove that the man whom he was pursuing turned round, and that the officer, thinking the man was going to shoot, fired the shot which was responsible for the death of this poor girl: and whether the group who remained behind were searched and no arms were found upon them?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have received further information since yesterday. I have not yet received a copy of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry into the death of Annie O'Neill, but I am informed that the public, including the solicitor and the Press, were excluded owing to the likelihood of danger to the witnesses appearing before the Court. The evidence before the Court established clearly that only one shot was fired. The officer who fired that shot gave evidence, and expressed his deepest regret at the accident. The circumstances under which the shot was fired were that another officer was pursuing a youth, and calling upon him to halt. The youth half-turned as he ran, and the first officer, fearing that the youth was going to shoot the second officer, fired at him, the shot fired killing one girl and wounding another, both of whom were behind the youth who was escaping. None of the youths who ran away were arrested, and no arms were found on those who did not run and were searched. I repeat my profound regret at this occurrence, one of the tragedies resulting from the present Irish situation.
§ Mr. O'CONNORIn consequence of that answer, is it not perfectly clear that 1895 these people who were running away in fright were unarmed; and are we to understand that, owing to nerves or a desire of reprisal, everybody who runs away is to be fired at in Ireland, with the possibility of such tragedies as this in the case of Mrs. Quinn and this poor girl?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do not know that I can usefully add anything to what I have said. In the present state of affairs in Ireland it is impossible for officers or soldiers to refuse to fire upon soldiers running away and refusing to heed the word, "Halt!" There have been so many awful cases of assassination owing to the confidence of soldiers and policemen in the fair play of their opponents.
§ Mr. O'CONNORDoes not the doctrine which the right hon. Gentleman has laid down mean that the life of no one is safe?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKYou are to fire at a crowd whenever you like.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Noble Lord should restrain his observations. If he has anything to say, he can say it on an appropriate occasion.
§ Mr. O'CONNORDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the doctrine which he has laid down gives the right and almost the direction to soldiers and policemen to fire if they see anybody running away, which means that the life of everybody in Ireland, innocent or guilty, man, woman, or child, is absolutely in danger as long as these soldiers are given this power.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI can assure the hon. Gentleman that that is not so. I am very glad to say that in most of the counties of Ireland things are very peaceful. Indeed, no one is in danger in Ireland who obeys the law. But in disturbed areas where soldiers and policemen are compelled to order people to halt for the purposes of search and other reasons, those who fail to halt fail at their peril.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIs it not a fact that these regrettable incidents would cease at once if the Sinn Feiners would stop murdering?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThat is so.