§ 24. Captain W. BENNasked the Chief Secretary whether it is with the authority of the Government that houses are destroyed as reprisals; what are the grounds on which such destructions are ordered; and whether the owners of the houses have any opportunity of rebutting the evidence on which it is decided to destroy their property?
§ Mr. HENRYAction of this character is taken on the responsibility of the Military Governor in the exercise of his powers under martial law, and it must rest with him to make such enquiry as he considers necessary. The Military Governor is in every case a senior military officer necessarily and properly entrusted with wide powers and responsibilities. As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House stated on the 19th instant, the general policy pursued by the Military Governors in Ireland has the full approval of His Majesty's Government, but I would point out that it would not be consistent with the essential character of martial law that the Government should seek to interfere with these officers in the details of their administration.
§ Captain BENNWould the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, whether the owners of the houses have an opportunity of rebutting the evidence?
§ Mr. HENRYThe military governor, who is a senior officer, before exercising power of the kind would naturally hear anything that was to be said.
§ Captain BENNBut I am asking whether the persons whose houses are burned have any opportunity of rebutting the evidence on which the burning is decided?
§ Mr. HENRYCertainly. The military authority hears anything they have got to say or anyone on their behalf.
§ Major M. WOODDoes he invite them to state their case before their property is destroyed?
§ Captain BENNMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he would be content to provide this House with copies of the evidence on which it is decided that the burnings should take place?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the Attorney-General aware that in at least two cases the houses burned belonged to ex-service men, and how is it that the property of ex-service men is destroyed?
Mr. O'CONNOR(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary what is the justification for the destruction in Ennis and Tralee, nine houses being bombed in Tralee, and in one house a woman and her child were very nearly killed by a bomb exploding in the room where they slept; and whether the Government will take steps immediately to put a stop to these outrageous depredations on people whose connection with crime is unproved and probably non-existent?
§ Mr. HENRYThese places are in the martial law area and my right hon. Friend has, therefore, called for a report from the Commander-in-Chief. If the hon. Member will repeat the question on Thursday of next week I hope then to be in a position to furnish him with a reply.