§ 10. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland 245 what action has been taken with regard to Cadet Hart, of the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who was tried by court-martial on 5th January last for the murder of Canon Magner and Mr. Timothy Crowley; where Cadet Hart now is; how is he employed; and whether any action has been taken with regard to the other police in the lorry with Cadet Hart, who are stated to have watched the beating of the Canon and the two murders without interfering?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODCadet Hart has been tried by court-martial and convicted of murder, but was found to have been insane at the time of committing the crime. He was sentenced to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure and is at present under detention awaiting transfer to a criminal lunatic asylum. The conduct of the other cadets who were present on the occasion of the murders has been the subject of a careful and searching official investigation. The officer commanding the company of which these men were members has been suspended.
The following were the medical experts who found that Cadet Hart was insane:
- Colonel W. G. Beyts, C.B.E., A.M.S., A.D.M.S., Cork.
- Lieut. - Colonel Nicholls, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer, Cork Detention Barracks.
- Dr. William Dawson, M.O., His Majesty's Inspector of Asylums, Ireland.
- Dr. M. Hamblin Smith, Medical Officer, His Majesty's Prison, Birmingham.
- Dr. East, M.D., Medical Officer, Liverpool Prison.
- Dr. Dyer, M.D., Medical Inspector of Prisons.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCannot these military officers examine more of the auxiliary cadets who have been committing these crimes? Is nothing more to be done in this matter of the 15 cadets who watched the beating of this old man of 70 for a quarter of an hour and then tried to secrete the body? If a resident magistrate had not been there, would this not have been another unknown murder?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI cannot accept that statement of fact from the hon. Member.
§ Mr. LAWSONHas it been decided by the medical authorities how long this cadet is going to remain insane?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThat is a most unfair imputation to make on these six medical officers drawn from different parts of the country who examined this murderer—so found—at different periods and came to the same conclusion. This murderer is detained at His Majesty's pleasure, which means as long as he remains insane?
§ Mr. STANTONWe know they are.
§ Mr. NEWBOULDIs this the officer who we were told yesterday by the Prime Minister was suspended owing to the Strickland Report?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODYes.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEHas it not been reported that this cadet was made insane by the massacres which had taken place a few days before in Cork?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODYes, Cadet Hart was a chum and companion of Cadet Chapman, who was massacred in an ambush a few days before in Cork, and undoubtedly that had an effect on his mind.