§ 62. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary if he has received reports of the death of Louis Darcy, at Oranmore, County Galway, while a prisoner in the hands of the police on 24th March last; of the shooting and killing of J. Mulloy, aged 13, at Boyle, County Roscommon, by police forces on the same date; on the killing of John O'Leary and the wounding of Thomas Waters by Crown forces, at Moneygall, County Tipperary, on 27th March; on the killing of William McCarthy on 27th March, while in the hands of the police; and of the machine-gunning of the church of St. John's, Tralee, on 27th March by a band of auxiliary police?
§ Mr. HENRYThe finding of the court of inquiry in lieu of inquest in the case of Louis D'Arcy was that he was shot by the police in the execution of their duty while he was trying to escape arrest. The finding in the case of Joseph Molloy was that he was accidentally caught in the line of fire directed by a party of military, who fired in the execution of their duty. I have not yet received the reports of the courts of inquiry in the cases of John 1109 O'Leary and William McCarthy, but according to the official report, O'Leary was killed and Waters was wounded through their failure to halt when challenged by the Crown forces, and McCarthy was shot while attempting to escape from custody. In regard to the incident at Tralee, referred to in the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to a question on the same subject by the hon. Member for the West Leyton Division (Mr. Newbould) on the 7th instant.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWith regard to the deaths of William McCarthy and Louis Darcy, may I ask whether it is the case that this reason of "shot while attempting to escape" is not accepted in Ireland or in England to any extent, but is looked upon as simply a cover for cold-blooded murder in too many cases?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIs it in order for a Member of this House to impute motives to courts of inquiry composed of officers of His Majesty's forces?