§ 16 and 50. Mr. GALBRAITHasked the Chief Secretary (1) whether a woman named Mrs. Foley, aged nearly 80, was shot at Carriglea, near Dungarvan, by a man in a military or police lorry while she was gathering sticks by the riverside; whether an inquiry has been held; and what reason is given for the killing of this woman;
(2) whether he is aware that a; woman named Mrs. Foley, aged nearly 80, was shot at Carriglea, near Dungarvan, by a man in a military or police lorry while she was gathering sticks by the riverside; whether an inquiry has been held; and what reason is given for the killing of this inoffensive woman?
§ 15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the shooting by the forces of the Crown, on 28th May, of Mrs. Mary Foley of Garryroe, near Dungarvan, County Waterford; whether he is aware that this woman was 70 years of age; that at the time of her being shot she was standing in a field near her home with no other companions than two small children; and that after she had been shot, at about 3 p.m., no medical assistance was rendered by the military authorities until 9 p.m., by which time Mrs. Foley was dead; and whether he is prepared to make any statement on the subject?
§ Mr. HENRYI am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that while Mrs. Foley with her two children were engaged in picking up sticks in a field near her home a military patrol operating in the district was fired at from the direction of the field in which this unfortunate woman was standing. The fire was returned and Mrs. Foley was accidentally wounded. This happened at 3.15 in the afternoon and the officer in command summoned 1519 civilians to help the wounded woman and then continued the pursuit of the rebels. Help was at hand within ten minutes, but a doctor sent for by the civilians did not arrive until 6.40 p.m. a quarter of an hour after Mrs. Foley had died.
§ 17. Mr. KENYONasked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has yet been held into the killing of three men named Ryan, Ahern, and Flynn, at Carigtwohill, County Cork, on the 17th May, while in custody of a party of military; and if so, what is its finding?
§ Mr. HENRYThe Court of Inquiry found that these men were shot by Crown forces in the exercise of their duty and that no blame attached to any member of the Crown forces concerned. Ryan and Ahern were shot in an attempt to escape from military escort after being warned that in the event of any such attempt they would be fired on. In the case of Richard Flynn a military party which had been sent to arrest him was fired on from the house and Flynn himself was shot while running out from the back door. His son Timothy Flynn who attempted to ecape with Ryan and Ahern was wounded.
§ 19. Mr. KENYONasked the Chief Secretary whether the destruction of houses at Kingswilliamstown, County Kerry, destroyed on the 29th January, was carried out by order of an officer and, if so, of what rank; and whether any disciplinary action has been taken in view of his exceeding his powers on that occasion?
§ Mr. HENRYThe circumstances of this case were fully described in my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to the hon. Member last Thursday. The officer who was in charge of the auxiliary police on this occasion has since been murdered.
§ 20. Mr. BRIANTasked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has been held into the death of Patrick Hickey, of Inniskeen, County Cork, who was shot dead on 25th May; and whether any arrests have been made?
§ Mr. HENRYThe Court of Inquiry in lieu of inquest in the case of Patrick Hickey, Laravotta, County Cork, found that the deceased was accidentally shot by the military during a conflict with rebels who had refused to halt when called 1520 upon and were endeavouring to escape-across the bog where the unfortunate man was turf cutting.
§ 21. Mr. KILEYasked the Chief Secretary what is the result of the inquiry into the killing of John Quinn and wounding of Patrick Walsh, at Kilmanagh, County Kilkenny, on the 21st May last?
§ Mr. HENRYI have not yet received the finding of the Court of Inquiry in the case of Quinn, but according to the police report he and Walsh formed part of a rebel force 300 strong which occupied the village of Kilmanagh on 12th May. On the following day, that is, 13th May, Crown forces came into contact with a portion of this column. The rebels opened fire, which was replied to by the Crown forces, with the result that Quinn was killed and Walsh, who had been recently released after serving a sentence of imprisonment, was wounded.
§ 42. Mr. RENDALLasked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has been held into the death of John Sheehan, of Collee, Listowel, stated to have been shot dead by members of the Crown forces on the 25th May; and what is its finding?
§ Mr. HENRYI have not yet received the report of the Court of Inquiry in this case, but according to the police report Sheehan was shot by Crown forces after refusing to halt when challenged. In his possession were found a fully-loaded revolver, 15 rounds of flat-nosed revolver ammunition, a railway ticket for London, and a number of London addresses.
§ 56. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has been held into the death of Michael Mullooly, said to have been shot by members of the Crown forces on 24th March at Kiltrustan, County Roscommon; and with what result?
§ Mr. HENRYThe Court of Inquiry in this ease found that deceased was shot by a member of the Crown forces in the execution of his duty.