HC Deb 14 April 1921 vol 140 cc1271-3
21. Mr. MOSLEY

asked the Chief Secretary the number of members of the forces of the Crown in Ireland who have been arrested for offences against the criminal law since 1st January last, and how many have been brought to trial; what the results of the trials have been, and how many remain in custody awaiting trial; the number of members of the forces of the Crown who have been killed and wounded, respectively, and the number of civilians, men, women, and children, who have been killed and wounded in Ireland since 1st January last; whether the Report of the military Court of Inquiry into the murders of Alderman Clancy and Councillor O'Callaghan, of Limerick, on the 7th March last, has yet been received; and, if so, what is the nature of the report?

Mr. HENRY

The numbers of members of the Forces of the Crown in Ireland who have been arrested for offences against the criminal law since the 1st January last is 221. Of this number 165 have been brought to trial, of whom 124 have been convicted and 41 acquitted. The sentences imposed in the cases of conviction were as follow:

  • 12 sentences of penal servitude for periods from 3 to 10 years.
  • 96 sentences of imprisonment for periods from 1 month to 2 years.
  • 5 sentences of reduction to the ranks.
  • 1 discharge under Probation of Offenders Act.
  • 1 bound over to keep the peace.
  • 7 sentences not yet promulgated.
The number of men at present in custody is 51. Two were kidnapped by rebels while being conveyed in military custody, and 3 have been allowed bail. The number of members of the forces of the Crown who have been killed during this period is 140, and the number wounded is 266. It is not possible to give the number of civilian casualties, owing to the fact that those which have been sustained by armed civilians in attacks on the Crown forces are carefully concealed. I dealt with the last part of this question in a reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Silvertown Division on the 24th ultimo.

Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR

Has any member of the armed forces of the Crown been subjected to the extreme penalty of the law?

Mr. HENRY

No, Sir; but at present a number of trials for murder are proceeding.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Has the report of the inquiry into the murder of Councillor O'Callaghan been received, and will it be laid before the House?

Mr. HENRY

I have already referred to this in my answer given on the 7th of March to the hon. Member for Silver-town (Mr. J. Jones), and if my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to that reply, he will find the particulars he asks for.

Sir H. BRITTAIN

What percentage do these convictions bear to the total number of the forces of the Crown employed in Ireland?

Mr. HENRY

I could not give them offhand. The number of soldiers serving in Ireland is 50,000, and the police force numbers 18,000. That makes a total of 68,000, and the total convictions are 165. The hon. and gallant Gentleman can calculate the percentage for himself.

Mr. WATERSON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether those, members of the force charged with murder will have the advantage of defending counsel to cross-examine the witnesses for the prosecution?

Mr. HENRY

They will have exactly the same privileges as any prisoner who is tried for anything before a court-martial.

Mr. BRIANT

Were any of these convictions actually for murder?

Mr. HENRY

No, Sir. I said in my answer that the maximum punishment is ten years' penal servitude.