§ 61. Mr. ROBINSON GRAHAMasked the Chief Secretary the circumstances under which Patrick Consellan was killed near Ennis; and whether the military evidence at the military court of inquiry showed that fire was opened on unarmed men leaving a church and that Consellan was killed during the firing?
§ Mr. HENRYThe findings of the military court of inquiry held in lieu of inquest was that this man met his death on the 27th February, 1921, as the result of a gunshot wound caused by a shot which was fired by a soldier in the execution of his duty. The evidence given at the inquiry was to the effect that Consellan 435 and a number of other men who were collected outside the church at Lissacasly on the morning of the above date were challenged by a party of military and called upon to halt. Instead of complying with this order they ran away, and the troops thereupon fired, with the result that Consellan was mortally wounded.
Mr. O'CONNORDoes the fact of men running away unarmed, in terror or defiance, justify soldiers firing upon them and killing them?
§ Mr. HENRYThe experience of the military has been that when groups of men are gathered together it invariably ends in the murder of either a policeman or a military man.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs the Attorney-General aware that none of the men fired upon were armed and no arms were found there at all?