HC Deb 25 October 1920 vol 133 cc1334-5
Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the wife and sisters of the late Alderman McSwiney were refused permission to see him on Saturday and yesterday; what was the reason for this refusal, and whether now they will be allowed to view the body?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt):

The Sisters have not been admitted for the last two days; the wife has been allowed to see him, when medical conditions permitted. The directions were all given purely on medical grounds. The relatives will be allowed to view the body.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Might I ask if the sisters were forbidden permission to see their brother on medical grounds? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on Saturday they were told at Brixton that the reasons were not medical, but that the orders were given from the Home Office?

Mr. SHORTT

The reasons were entirely medical, because of the extremely bad effects they had upon the condition of their brother.