§ 29. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Prime Minister whether he has received the copies sent to him of the affidavits by Mrs. Bridget Fahy, of Abbeyside, Dungarvan, and Miss Bridget O'Neill, of Kilnafrehan, County Waterford, as to looting and overtures and acts of indecency by Black and Tans at Mrs. Fahy's premises on 3rd April; whether he is aware that these ladies attended at the police barracks and identified one of the men concerned; whether he has ascertained why this man has not been prosecuted; whether he is aware that, as a reprisal for the identification, the police returned in the middle of the night on 14th April and wrecked and burned the shop and house, destroyed furniture, stock, and effects, stole money, and left the lady homeless and penniless, the only occupants of the house being these two ladies and a child of six years; whether any action was taken by him on receipt of the affidavits; and, if so, with what result?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have received these affidavits, and the allegations are now being investigated by the Commander-in-Chief in Ireland.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHDoes the answer of the Chief Secretary mean that he has received them, or that the Prime Minister has received them?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODEverything sent to the Prime Minister concerning Ireland comes to me.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHOh, dear!
Captain BENNCan the right hon. Gentleman say why it has taken over two months to investigate a series of charges of this kind?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am not aware that it has taken over two months to investigate the series of charges. As soon as the affidavits came to me they were sent to the only officer who could inquire into them, namely, the Commander-in-Chief. There was some delay in my receiving them, because of the unnecessary circumlocution of sending them to the Prime Minister first.
Captain BENNDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that these events are 584 said to have occurred in April? Why has no inquiry been held?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHI would like an answer to my question as to whether these ladies attended at the police barracks and identified one of the men concerned, and also as to why this man has not been prosecuted during the intervening two months?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have fully answered that. There are questions involved in the allegations contained in the affidavits which, as I have stated, are being inquired into.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHDoes the right hon. Gentleman say this question was never reported to him until he got the sworn affidavits?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have answered the question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member put down a question referring to certain statements in affidavits. Inquiry naturally follows upon the allegations, and the hon. Member has been asked to await the result of the inquiry.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHSurely I am entitled to an answer to a specific question upon the Paper, namely, whether the policeman who was identified has been prosecuted and, if not, why not?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member wishes to detach any part of the question from the part relating to the affidavits, he should put down a separate question.