§ 16. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to statements in an English newspaper, published on 21st October last, to the effect that on the night of 16th October two lorry-loads of police surrounded the farm of Mrs. Fcency, near Corbally, and flogged three of her sons; that these same police flogged Patrick Raferty, of Coro-fin, on the same night; that on the evening of the 17th October other men were flogged outside Varden's public-house at Cummer, on the main road between Gal-way and Tuam, by police, who also drove up in two motor lorries; that the late Michael Walsh was taken from his house and murdered by police on the night of the 19th October in the city of Galway; and what steps has he taken to inquire into these allegations, and with what result?
§ Mr. G. TERRELLBefore this question is answered, may I ask whether a question is in order which is merely founded on statements which have appeared in a newspaper?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid that if I were to rule a question out on that ground, there would be very few questions left.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs regards the incidents alleged to have taken place at Corbally, Corofln, and at Varden's public house, Cummer, I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to the Private Notice question of the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor) on Tuesday, in which I dealt fully with these cases. The circumstances attending the death of Mr. Michael Walsh in Galway on the 19th inst are at present under investigation by a military court of inquiry, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement with regard to this case.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether the relatives who state that they have no complaint to make about their sons being flogged have been visited by the very police who are terrorising the neighbourhood, and does the right hon. Gentleman accept that as evidence in a matter of this extreme importance, affecting our relations with the whole world?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am not aware of the facts as set out in the question.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask if he has seen this morning the very specific statement made by an experienced English correspondent to one of the leading newspapers, the "Manchester Guardian," stating that he has cross-examined the relatives in connection with these flogging cases, and that he has no doubt about the truth of these statements?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI road all the papers, and I have seen the statement referred to by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, but I cannot accept the statements of a journalist of that or of any other paper against the reports of those officials for whom I am responsible in this House and in whom I have confidence.
§ Mr. DEVLINAs the right hon. Gentleman has specifically declared that this English and other English correspondents are publishing false statements about the military in Ireland, is he prepared to prosecute these newspapers and have this matter investigated in an English court of justice?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs far as I know, you cannot prosecute a paper in England for a false statement as such. In any event I am not responsible far English papers, and I have not alleged and do not allege what the hon. Member refers to against any journalist.
§ Mr. DEVLINIf the publication of these statements undermines the military power and prestige of this country, is it not only fair to ask, in the interests of the military and of truth, that some impartial judicial inquiry should be set up thoroughly to investigate the truth of these allegations?