HC Deb 18 November 1920 vol 134 cc2059-60
17. Major MACKENZIE WOOD

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Government Chief Constable was asked to take a statement from Mrs. Quinn, who was killed by a shot from a military motor lorry at Kiltarton on 1st November before she died; and why the Chief Constable refused to take such a statement if the authorities desired to get an accurate account of the cause of Mrs. Quinn's death?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I have no information to the effect stated in the question, but I will make further inquiry. I have a report from the Head Constable, from which it appears that he twice visited Mrs. Quinn's house after the injury was received. On the first occasion Mrs. Quinn was being attended by the doctor, and on the second occasion she was unconscious.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the statement published by the parish priest that he himself twice asked the Head Constable to take a statement from the dying woman, and that the Head Constable refused?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I read a letter to that effect in the "Westminster Gazette" taken from the "Irish Bulletin," and if it is so that the priest made the request to this Head Constable, all I can say is that none of the constables take their orders from priests.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Father Considine condemned the murders of police from the pulpit the Sunday before this occurrence, and was he called as a witness at the Court of Inquiry?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member should give notice of that question.

18. Major M. WOOD

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether at the military inquiry into the death of Mrs. Quinn, at Kiltarton, on 1st November, the officer in command of the military lorries from which the shot was fired was called to give evidence; whether neither the head constable nor any of the local police were called; whether the doctor who attended Mrs. Quinn was called; and, if none of these material witnesses were called, whether he will institute a new inquiry which will make an adequate investigation into the cause of this woman's death?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I have not yet received the full report of the Court of Inquiry in this case but from the report which I have received it appears that four police witnesses, including the officer in charge of the lorry from which the shot was fired and six civilian witnesses including the priest and two doctors who attended Mrs. Quinn after her injury until her death were called. No military witnesses were called as the military were in no way concerned in the matter. There would appear to be no reason for a new inquiry.