HC Deb 19 April 1921 vol 140 cc1692-4
Sir W. DAVISON

(by Private Notice) asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he can give the House any particulars as to the dastardly murder, by a body of men stated to belong to the Irish Republican Army, of Catherine Carroll, who was the sole support of her aged parents, between 80 and 90 years of age, in the Scotstown district of the County Monaghan, early on Sunday morning; whether she was dragged from her bed and, after having her hands fastened behind her back, was brutally murdered in a field near her parents' cottage; whether he is aware that the whole district is living in a state of terror; and what steps are being taken to protect the inhabitants from further outrages of the kind?

Mr. HENRY

At 11.45 p.m. on the 16th, in the Monaghan district, Kate Carroll was dragged from her house by armed men and murdered. She lived with an invalid brother, 53 years old, and her mother, who is 80 years old. Recently Miss Carroll wrote some letters to the police concerning illicit drink traffic in the neighbourhood. These letters were captured from the local postman by members of the Irish Republican Army, and this capture was the cause of her death. After she was dragged out of the house, her hands were tied behind her back, and they forced her along for half a mile. Her dead body was found, with bullet wounds, in a field. The murder has caused a feeling of terror in the district, and every effort is being made, and will be made, to bring the murderers to justice.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is anything being done for her aged mother and invalid brother, who are now left without any means of support by the death of the breadwinner of the family?

Viscountess ASTOR

May I ask the right hon. Member, as this is evidently a case where the woman was trying to protest against drink being sold, and as—I ask all the House to listen to this—it is a very important question—

Mr. SPEAKER

Will the Noble Lady put her question, without lecturing the House?

Viscountess ASTOR

Yes. As there are often so many reports from Ireland that drink is having such a terrible effect on all of them except the Sinn Feiners—they are the only ones, I believe, who do not drink—will the Government do something to control the drink traffic in Ireland until there is a little more peace in all parts of the country?

Mr. HENRY

I can assure the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) that every effort will be made to provide compensation for the brother and the mother of this unfortunate woman. The drink traffic I alluded to was illicit drink traffic.

Viscountess ASTOR

That is what I meant, either illicit or otherwise.