Mr. BOTTOM LEY (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is true, as reported in the Press, that Alderman McSwiney, Lord Mayor of Cork, now undergoing a sentence of two years' imprisonment in Brixton Gaol, has been on hunger strike for 68 days and is now in a critical condition and, if so, whether, having regard to the suffering he must have endured and to the possible good effect which such action might have upon the present situation in Ireland, he will advise His Majesty to exercise his prerogative of mercy and order the release of the prisoner.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)The statements in the first part of the question are substantially correct. I cannot advise His Majesty in the way suggested.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYSo far as the prison authorities are concerned there has been no form of feeding whatever?
§ Mr. SHORTTNot on the part of the prison authorities.
§ Mr. BILLINGAre we to understand from that that this man has been existing without any form of nourishment whatever for 68 days?
§ Mr. SHORTTI cannot add anything.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY (by Private Notice)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when the late Michael Fitzgerald, who died on the night of the 17th October in Cork Gaol, was arrested, and whether he had been tried; and what is the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to the other Irish prisoners on hunger strike?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODMichael Fitzgerald was arrested on 9th September, 1919. He was charged with the murder of Private Jones at Fermoy on 7th September. He was duly returned for trial, and at Cork Summer Assizes a true bill was found against him, but owing to the absence of jurors through intimidation it was impossible to proceed with his trial. The Restoration of Order in Ireland Act, which would have enabled the Government to try him, came into force on 9th August, and on 11th August Fitzgerald went on hunger strike, thus preventing his trial. The policy of the Government regarding the other prisoners now on hunger strike has been repeatedly announced, namely, that convicted men, and men awaiting trial, on direct evidence of serious offences will not be permitted to obtain their release by hunger striking, and this policy remains unchanged. All the men now on hunger strike come within this category.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that three Assizes passed with no attempt made to bring this unfortunate man to trial, and is not the real reason the fact that there was no evidence against him, he not having been anywhere near the position where the attack took place?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThere was evidence of the most decisive nature against this man. There was no delay on the part of the Government in bringing him to an Assize Court. The fact that he was not tried is set out in the answer I have just given, and, as I said, he evaded trial by going on hunger strike.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in view of the statement that the policy of the Government is to prevent these people from obtaining their release by hunger striking, the authorities take any steps to see that they are not fed by anybody?