§ Mr. MacVEAGH(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received any report of the robberies and personal violence committed by special constables in the town of Newry; whether these charges have been preferred by leading merchants; and whether an independent investigation will be held?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe serious allegations which have been made against certain units of the Special Constabulary in the Newry district have already been the subject for official inquiry, and as a result one platoon has been disbanded and a number of men are now awaiting trial by court-martial on charges of theft. In regard to the second part of the hon. Member's question the Military Court of Inquiry held in lieu of inquest into the deaths of the two internees at Ballykinlar found that no blame attached to the soldier who fired in the execution of his duty. No action of punitive or disciplinary character was therefore called for and none has been taken.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHSeeing that the right hon. Gentleman has now put some of these special constables on trial on a charge of theft and looting, does he propose to conpensate the people who have been robbed on the occasion of the visits of those special constables?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must await the decision of the court-martial.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHHas any action been taken in the case of the soldier who shot dead two interned prisoners in the Ballykinlar camp?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe military inquiry held in lieu of the inquest found that no blame attached to the soldier, who fired in the execution of his duty.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not a fact that Colonel Little, the commanding officer, agreed that these prisoners should be allowed to converse with the prisoners in another camp provided that they did not approach the wire entanglements; and that these two men were shot dead by the soldier, without any order from the officer, whilst they were 40 feet away from the wire entanglements?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must ask the hon. Member to give me notice.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWas the soldier who shot these two men put on trial? Was he court-martialled?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAny soldier who is accused is at once relieved of his duty until the hearing of the case. I have already said that no blame attached to the soldier, who fired in the execution of his duty. Every opportunity was given to the internees to give evidence at the inquest, but no one responded.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs not the reason for that because no one had the slightest confidence in the impartiality of the tribunal? Is it not a fact that this inquiry was conducted by the officers of the man who committed the two murders?
§ Commander Viscount CURZONIs it not a fact that the soldier fired only after repeated warnings to these two men?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThat is so.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHThat is not so.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see the advisability of making the exact facts known in this case?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe exact facts have been made known in the Press in Ireland and also in this country. All these courts are open to evidence from anyone; soldiers and all parties interested are always welcome, and it is rarely that the public Press representatives are excluded.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not a fact that the relatives of the two men who were murdered were not informed of the murders until three days after they had taken place?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am not aware of that.