HC Deb 28 June 1921 vol 143 cc1975-6
55. Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement with reference to the murder of John Murphy, B. A., national school teacher, at Ballinalee, County Longford; whether in the early hours of Thursday, 26th May, six armed and masked men, wearing light raincoats and rubber-soled shoes, came to his home and dragged him away, despite the protestations of his wife and himself, and shot him dead a little distance from his home; whether at the military inquiry next day the widow stated that the murderers spoke with a marked English accent. that she could identify some of them, and that she was prepared to swear that they were members of the auxiliary forces stationed at Ballinalee Barracks, about half a mile from the scene of the murder; whether relatives of the widow state that they saw members of the auxiliary forces on the morning after the murder carefully erasing all traces of footprints when they came with the County Inspector to investigate the crime; whether he is aware that there was no charge made against the late Mr. Murphy and that he had no connection with politics; whether he can state who was responsible for censoring the report of the proceedings at the inquiry and deleting that portion of the evidence which pointed to the crime having been committed by the Crown forces; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I have been in communication with the Commander-in-Chief and I am able to give an absolute denial to the grave suggestion that footprints were erased and that any evidence given before the court of inquiry was deleted from the records. In the course of her evidence the widow stated that the accents of the murderers sounded to her as though they were English but that she could not recognise them as they were masked. She is not reported as having stated in her evidence that these men were members of the Auxiliary Division stationed at Ballinalee, and I may add that in point of fact there are no members of the Auxiliary Division stationed at this place. It was well known in the neighbourhood that John Murphy was a loyal and law-abiding citizen, and the court in finding wilful murder by persons unknown expressed their sympathy with the deceased man's relations.

Mr. DEVLIN

Will an impartial inquiry be set up to investigate the death of this innocent man, who was a loyal subject of the Crown?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

An impartial inquiry has already been set up.

Mr. DEVLIN

Surely you do not call that inquiry impartial?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I do.

Mr. DEVLIN

You say it is an inquiry, but not that it is an impartial one.

56. Mr. MOSLEY

asked the Chief Secretary whether any persons have been arrested in connection with the murder at Drumcondra, on 9th February last, of Joseph Murphy and Patrick Kennedy, other than those persons tried for and acquitted of these murders in April last?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

The answer is in the negative.