§ 5. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he now has information as to whether Charles Lynch, of Miltown Malbay, Michael Ryan, of Curraghduff, Thurles, and Thomes Egan, of Coshir, Athenry, were dragged from their beds on the night of the 24th October last and shot dead by servants of the Crown; whether Charles Lynch was a man of 70 years of age; whether Michael Ryan was the only son of a widow, and was seriously ill in bed when the party of men arrived; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood)I regret that I have not yet received copies of the proceedings of the courts of inquiry in the cases of Lynch and Ryan. As regards Egan the evidence given at the court of inquiry was to the effect that he was murdered by three men dressed in policemen's capes and with caps like those of the police except that they had no peaks, that Egan was very friendly with the police and that a short time previously a party of police had been surrounded in the neighbourhood and de- 2051 prived of their capes. I may add that in March last, as a result of an agrarian dispute, a Mr. Shaw Taylor, a well-known Galway landlord, was murdered at 7 a.m. within 30 paces of Egan's door and he was commonly supposed to know who the murderers were.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that people in Egan's town declare positively that this man was killed by the servants of the Crown; and may I further ask why after three weeks he has not had any report about those other horrible murders?
Colonel C. LOWTHERIs it not the fact that before those occurrences of which the hon. Member complains two policemen and one sergeant were foully murdered?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am afraid that does not exhaust the crimes in that neighbourhood. If there are persons in this neighbourhood who have knowledge of how this man was killed they could have come as witnesses and given evidence at the hearing, but no such men appeared.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman guarantee the safety of witnesses—[HON. MEMBERS: "From whom?"]—who do come forward before these Courts, and can he say why he has not reports as to the other cases which occurred three weeks ago?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI can assure the hon. Gentleman the Irish Administration is very busy Just now.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill the right hon. Gentleman explain which suggestion he desires to be taken seriously—that Egan was friendly with the police, and was therefore murdered by Sinn Feiners, or that Egan lived near the scene of Shaw Taylor's murder, and therefore knew who committed the murder. Which suggestion does he adopt?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have answered both.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHOne is contradictory of the other.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do not think so.
§ 6. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he now has information as to whether, on the 25th October last, a band of armed men, who described themselves as Secret Service agents, entered the house of William Gleeson, Moher, county Tipperary, in search of his son James, whom they stated they had come to kill; whether they threatened the father, and on his son William offering his life for his father, they took him, the son, outside the house and shot him dead; whether any form of inquiry has taken place, and what was the evidence and finding?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI regret that I have not yet received the report of the inquiry in this case.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman taken any steps on this question, of which notice was given a week ago, to hasten the report or to get a telegraphic report, or is murder such a small thing—[HON. MEMBERS: "Of police!"]—of police or aybody else—it is left to the ordinary bureaucratic channels of his office?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI consider murder a most horrible and serious thing.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhoever does it?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODYes.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHYou have not said that before.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have done my best to get reports in these cases. I repeat that it is impossible, with all the will in the world, for the Irish Administration to get reports as quickly as some hon. Members desire.
§ Mr. E. KELLYWill the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that in the case of these military inquiries into the deaths of persons the solicitor for the next-of-kin will always be allowed to appear as heretofore at inquests?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI cannot give that assurance.
§ 8. Mr. KILEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what will be the composition of the court which will try the nine constables who are under arrest in 2053 Ireland charged with murder, looting, felony, and conduct prejudicial to good order?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe trial in each of these cases will be by court-martial, constituted in accordance with the provisions of Section 48 of the Army Act.
§ Mr. KILEYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has arrived when he might usefully set up a tribunal at which all these matters could be inquired into?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do not.
§ 13. Mr. WATERSONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether an attack was made on 18th October last on Abbeydorney, county Kerry, Co-operative Creamery, by about 20 men wearing police uniform; whether the attack included assaults upon the manager and his assistant by one of the Black and Tans, as well as a determined attempt to burn the creamery; whether the attack was preceded by the removal of large quantities of butter and cheese to the lorry which conveyed the policemen; whether on the same date in Moycullen, county Galway, a mixed force consisting of police and military visited the co-operative stores there, ostensibly in quest of information respecting the disappearance of a Mr. Joyce, a school teacher of Baina, seven miles distant, when they were assured by the manager and his assistant that they knew nothing about Mr. Joyce's disappearance; whether the two assistants were flogged by forces of the Crown and the manager fired at with a shot gun and wounded in the hand and neck, and has any protection been promised to these employés of such-like organisations; and can it be stated what steps are being taken to prevent the servants of the Crown from carrying out attacks on the person; will compensation be paid by the Crown for these assaults, and if he will now grant a public inquiry?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs the reply is rather lengthy, I propose to have it published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the reply:
§ According to a report which I have received, the storehouse of the Abbeydorney Co-operative Creamery was burned down on the night of the 18th October, but no clue can be obtained as to the identity of 2054 the persons who committed this destruction. The manager of the creamery alleges that he was assaulted, but the police have no information as to this beyond his own statement or as to the alleged removal of quantities of butter and cheese. With reference to the Moycullen incident, I am informed that a mixed force of police and military visited that town on the 18th ultimo, while searching for a schoolmaster who had been kidnapped on account of his being friendly disposed towards the police. The kidnapping party were reported to have halted near the Cooperative stores in Moycullen, but the manager and his assistants on being questioned refused to give any information and the manager ran towards the back of the premises. The suspicions of the police were excited by this movement and on his refusing to stop a shot was fired from a shot-gun wounding him with pellets on the head and neck. His assistants were not flogged. The missing schoolmaster has not yet been found and grave fears are entertained for his safety. I am unable to agree with the hon. Member that the people in the locality stand in need of any guarantee of protection from the servants of the Crown, or that the incident which I have related calls for further inquiry.
§ Mr. WATERSONCan the right hon. Gentleman state the reason why within a few hours from the tabling of this question the manager's house was ransacked and burned by armed forces of the Crown; and, further, what protection has been given according to his promise on 28th of last month to a deputation that met him on this important subject?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI was not aware of the first allegation made by the hon. Member. As to the second, I had a complete answer to a previous question by an hon. Member who was not in his place, but it will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. WATERSONMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will inquire into the case of the manager's house, as this is a very important matter. I think the right hon. Gentleman is aware that it affects many managers who are doing their work under extraordinary difficulties?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI will have that case inquired into.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman also inquire into the case of the engineman Toomey, whose house was burned down the same night because, apparently, a question was tabled by my hon. Friend and myself on this matter?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do not see any connection between the two.
§ 16. Mr. HOGGEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether an official report of the burning of the creameries at Tub-bercurry and Achonry was issued from Dublin Castle to certain press representatives on or before 6th October; whether this Report was drawn up by a senior police officer at the request of the Chief Secretary's Department; whether it was admitted in the Report that these creameries were destroyed by constabulary; and whether this Report was presented to him before 20th October, when he stated that he had never seen a title of evidence to prove that the servants of the Crown had destroyed creameries?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThis question only appeared on the Paper for the first time on Tuesday morning, and it is not possible to give an answer to-day. I would ask my hon. Friend to postpone it.
§ 20. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any official inquiry has been made into the attacks made by uniformed servants of the Crown, accompanied by wrecking, looting, arson and, in some cases, murder, on the following towns: Fermoy in September, 1919; Kinsale and Cork in November; Thurles in January, 1920; Thurles, Cork and Dublin in March; Burladuff, Kilcommon and Limerick in April; Limerick, Thurles, Bantry, Kilcommon and Killmallock in May; Middleton, Limerick, Bantry, Fermoy, Lismore, Newcastle West and Kilcommon in June; Limerick, Union Hall, Middleton, Ballylanders, Tralee, Arklow, Galbally, Cork, Ballagh, Emly, Tuam, Enniscorthy, Ballina, Leap, Caltra, Upperchurch and Tipperary in July; Castlerea, Doon, Rosegreen, Tralee, Kildorrey, Enniscorthy, Swords, Limerick, Tralee, Templemore, Castleiny, Loughmore, Killee, Bantry, Oranmore, Glengarine, Dundalk, Kill, Knocklong, Shanagolden, Naas and Cove in August; at Ballaghaderin, Inniscarra, Tullow, Galway, Salthill, Carrick-on-Shannon, Tuam, Balbriggan, Drumshambo, Ennis- 2056 tymon, Lahinch, Milltown Malbay, Ballinamore, Athlone, Killorglin, Trim, Kilfenora, Silvermines, Cork, Mallow, Liscarrol, Dunkerrin, Clonmore, Bally-shannon, Listowel, Ballygar, Drimo-league, Tuam, Galway, Roscrea, Tubbser-curry, Ballyara, Achonry, Kilshenane and Gort in September; 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, Ballyboy, 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; and in Tipperary and Mallow on 18th. October; 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. GREENWOODI have nothing to add to my reply to this same question put to me by the hon. and learned Member so recently as the 11th instant.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHThe question which I have put several times has not been answered. I wish to know whether signed reports will be called for and embodied in a Parliamentary Paper?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe answer which I gave on a previous occasion was that a number of such inquiries are still proceeding, and I am not in a position to give a complete and detailed account. I hope to do so at a later date.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill that contain all the evidence of the inquiries in the cases in which there has been sacking and looting of towns?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI will consider that.
§ 32. Mr. CHARLES WHITEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the inquiry into reprisals in Ireland which has been set up in the United States; whether the British Ambassador at Washington has received any request for evidence from the promoters of the inquiry; and, if so, what reply has been given?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Lloyd George)My attention has been called to the inquiry in question. So far as I am aware, His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington has received no request to give evidence.
§ Mr. WATERSONHas the Cabinet decided now to go in for an inquiry?
§ Mr. BILLINGCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us what it has to do with America?
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the Prime Minister aware that these reprisals have shocked the whole civilised world?
§ Mr. R. McLARENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this inquiry is only asked for by the Germans and the Irish-Americans?