§ 22. Mr. GALBRAITHasked the Chief Secretory whether a young man named Boland, of Ballyhaunis, who had been on the run for some months, was shot dead by members of the Crown forces on 27th May; and whether an inquiry has been held into his death and with what result?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThis man was chased and captured by Crown forces during a search for rebels at Crossard. While being led away under escort he made a determined attempt to escape. He ignored repeated commands to halt and was consequently fired at with fatal results. The Court of Inquiry found that he met his death by a bullet wound fired by Crown forces in the execution of their duty. Boland was identified by the police as a captain in the Crossard Company of the Irish Republican Army. He is believed to have taken a leading part in an ambush in this neighbourhood and to have been implicated in the attempted murder of a constable.
§ 25. Mr. BRIANTasked the Prime Minister whether any estimate of the cost of the operations in Ireland has been presented to the Cabinet; and, if so, whether Supplementary Estimates will be presented?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)Supplementary estimates will be presented if required, but it is impossible at present to forecast the rate of expenditure for the rest of the year.
Captain BENNDoes the right hon. Gentleman anticipate that a Supplementary Estimate will be required?
§ 54. Captain W. BENNasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that among the property destroyed or looted at Ennis on 19th April, in revenge for the murder of Sergeant Rue on 16th April, was the whole of the contents of the Old Ground Hotel, including personal effects, food, 577 money, paintings, a piano, and the effects of lodgers at the hotel; that the occupiers are Mrs. Jane McNamara, widow, aged 85 years, and quite blind, Mrs. Francis O'Conor, widow, and her daughter Miss Oonagh O'Conor, aged 20; that these women have no male relatives living and take no part in politics; and what reason is alleged by the military governor for the singling out of these persons for punishment?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThis hotel was one of those referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Leyton West (Mr. Newbould) on 5th May, but I have asked the Commander-in-Chief for a more detailed report in this case.
§ Captain BENNIs it a fact that members of the Crown forces can go about stealing food, money, pianos, and paintings in April, and the right hon. Gentleman in June is asking someone for a report?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo; the allegations are made by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, not by me.
§ Captain BENNIs it not a fact that these helpless women were robbed in April, and the Chief Secretary in June is yet making inquiries?
§ 72. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet consulted with the military authorities as to the advisability of discontinuing official reprisals in the martial law area: and whether any decision has been reached?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI would refer the Noble Lord to my reply to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds on the 13th instant.
§ Mr. WATERSON(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Lombardstown Creamery, Cork, has been closed by a military order signed by Colonel Willis, Kerry Brigade, Buttevant; whether this creamery deals with a milk supply of over 6,000 gallons daily, and no other machinery is available in neighbouring creameries to deal with such a large supply; whether the order to close the creamery was given with the consent of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, upon what grounds?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe Commander-in-Chief informs me that this creamery has been closed from 15th June 578 to 29th June. The grounds upon which such punishments are imposed by the military authorities were fully dealt with in my reply to a Private Notice question by the hon. Member for Leith on 30th May, in which I said:
It has been decided to close a limited number of creameries in the martial law area in localities where outrages have been frequent and where road cutting and other forms of sabotage are prevalent, and where other punishments and restrictions have not had the desired effect. The number of creameries to be closed in any one area is at present limited to three. Military governors who adopt this form of punishment are instructed to announce publicly by means of Proclamations or through the local Press the reason why each creamery is closed and the duration of the closure. In regard to the last part of the question, these measures are not taken against specific individuals, but are intended to bring home to the inhabitants of the locality generally their responsibility for outrages committed with their knowledge and connivance."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 30th May, 1921; col. 583, Vol. 142.]No one regrets more than I do the necessity for these measures, but they have been decided upon by the Commander-in-Chief, who has the complete confidence and full support of the Government in his difficult task.
§ Mr. WATERSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether these orders for the closing down of these creameries are executed, in many cases, summarily and without due notice; and, seeing that there are large stocks of perishable goods, such as butter and cheese, and valuable foodstuffs being wantonly destroyed, can he not see his way to give sufficient notice, in order that these people may remove these perishable goods?
Lord H. CAVENDISH BENTINCKBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, will he explain to the House how the inhabitants who are unarmed can prevent outrages committed by armed people, and why they should be punished by the shutting up of their creameries? That is a sensible question, is it not?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs to the specific point raised by the hon. Member (Mr. Waterson), I cannot say whether reasonable notice was given or not, but I will make inquiries.
§ Captain W. BENNCan the right hon. Gentleman say, when he is inflicting punishment on the people of Ireland, that he will avoid inflicting punishment on babies who require milk?