HC Deb 16 June 1921 vol 143 cc590-3
74. Mr. LAWSON

asked the Chief Secretary what is the result of the inquiries into the alleged theft last November by members of the Crown forces of property belonging to Nurse Dowling, of Ballymacelligott; and whether any compensation has been paid to her?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

No order was issued to search the premises where Nurse Dowling resided at the time in question, and no police are known to have entered the premises on that date. Investigations in this matter are still being pursued, but unless further facts come to light there is no ground for paying any compensation from the public funds.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this lady gave very great service during the War, and that the lost £100 worth of notes and property that were taken while the forces of the Crown were on the premises; that they were known to have entered the premises—there is plenty of evidence to that effect?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I profoundly regret that anybody should lose money— or their lives—in Ireland; but this case has been inquired into, and unless I have justification for it I have no right to spend money voted by this House to anybody, however hard the case may be.

Mr. LAWSON

May I ask, in view of the attention that has been called to this, the Ballymacelligott incident, which was, I think, a serious affair, whether the right hon. Gentleman will go into the whole of the facts of the case and give a clear, frank report to the House about it?

Mr. WATERSON

Will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to see that a verbatim report of the trial is laid upon the Table of the House?

Mr. STANTON

Is it not, Sir, a breach of the privileges of the House that hon. Members should put inspired and primed questions, about the circumstances of many of which they know nothing?

Mr. J. JONES

There is a Member with the halo!

Mr. STANTON

You go before your people with these stories.

Mr. SPEAKER

There is no question of privilege.

Mr. LAWSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is not an inspired question; some of us have visited the very place, and evidence was taken on the spot?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

Let me be responsible only for what I am responsible. [An HON. MEMBER: "That is quite enough."] The question deals with Nurse Dowling, and it is a very hard case, but in my answer I say there is no grounds for paying any compensation out of public funds. What I shall do is: I shall consider if it is possible—if the nurse has a good case—to contribute out of any other funds. I shall do that. It is impossible for a Minister to spend public money except on the authority of those who advise him.

Captain BENN

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean when he says: "If the nurse has a good case?"

Mr. STANTON

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker—

Mr. SPEAKER

Mr. MacVeagh.

The following question stood on the Paper in the name of Mr. MacVeagh:

75. To ask the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the official statement issued on 9th May from Dublin Castle for insertion in the newspapers to the effect that Newcastle, County Down, police barracks had been attacked at 2.30 that morning, and that the attack lasted until 5 a.m. when the rebels were driven off; has he since been informed that the force of rebels consisted of one local Tory who had gone mad, and who is now in a lunatic asylum; on whose authority was the story of the heroic defence of Newcastle barracks against the rebel army circulated, and has it since been publicly withdrawn; and, as the local telegraph office was not open until three hours after the facts had been known, can he state if the account came from any local police officer or whether it was composed in Dublin Castle?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

The statement in question—[Interruption].

Mr. MacVEAGH

Order! I want to hear the Chief Secretary tell us about these men.

Mr. STANTON

We do not want to listen to you.

Mr. SPEAKER

It is impossible to get information if hon. Members on this side are abusing their right. I hope they will be prepared to listen without interruption, for one interruption leads to another.

Sir H. GREENWOOD

The statement in question was officially issued to the Press exactly in the form in which it was received from the local police. It subsequently transpired that the disturbance which the sergeant in charge of the police barracks in the small hours of the morning took to be an attack was in fact merely due to the action of an unfortunate individual who had mounted to the roof of a neighbouring temperance hotel, and proceeded to dismantle it by pulling off the tiles and throwing them on to the road. The true story quickly became known, and received adequate publicity. The sergeant who submitted this report without satisfying himself of the facts has been suitably dealt with.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the report inserted in the newspapers was circulated as it was received from the local police; and are we to understand that the sergeant of police, after dealing with this mad Tory and getting him put into a lunatic asylum, reported to Dublin Castle as follows: I was attacked by a band of rebels, and I gallantly defended the barracks for four hours and they retired. I had no casualties. That is a fine cock-and-bull story you have let out.