HC Deb 21 April 1921 vol 140 cc2041-3
23. Sir M. DOCKRELL

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that there have been cases, both in England and Ireland, in which permission has been given to rejoin the police and to count previous service for pension, although no reason for leaving the force was assigned; whether he will explain why Constable John Holohan, who has been permitted to rejoin the Dublin Metropolitan Police, has been denied permission to count for pension his previous service of six years with the police and his three years of active service in the Royal Navy, the reason given being that he retired from the Dublin Police expressing an intention of joining the London Police; and is he aware that Constable Holohan did not carry out any such intention, but within 20 days of leaving the Dublin Police joined on active service the Royal Navy, served on several battleships and destroyers, was torpedoed, and received the Good Conduct Badge of the Navy in 1918?

Mr. HENRY

When a constable of the Dublin Metropolitan Police for the purposes of the late War enlisted in the Army, Navy or Air Force with the consent of the Chief Commissioner, there is power on his return to the police force, if the Lord Lieutenant so directs, to reckon his military service as police service for the purpose of calculating police pay and subsequent pension, and this power has been exercised in all proper cases. Constable Holohan severed his connection with the Dublin Metropolitan Police before joining the Navy and did not apply for re-admission to the force for more than six months after his demobilisation. He was re-admitted on the distinct understanding that he could not claim any benefit from previous service in the police force or the Navy. In England it is possible, under the Police (Superannuation) Act, 1906, to reckon discontinuous police service as approved service for pension, but there is no corresponding enactment as regards Irish police forces.

Sir M. DOCKRELL

Will the Lord Lieutenant be asked to exercise dispensing powers in this case, seeing the patriotic action of this man in joining within 20 days, as he was not one of the standbacks, but joined up at once?

Mr. HENRY

I regret very much that we are bound by the Statute.

Sir M. DOCKRELL

Surely the rules cannot be so hide bound. There must be some dispensing power?

Mr. HENRY

I should be very glad indeed if I could advise that it was within our power.

Sir J. BUTCHER

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of assimilating the Irish practice with the English practice so as to put the Irish police pensioners upon the same favourable terms as the English pensioners?

Mr. HENRY

In most cases that is so, but it would require legislation in this particular case, and we are not prepared to do that.