§ 9. Mr. ACLANDasked the Chief Secretary whether, subsequent to the killing of an ex-soldier named Denis Loughlin at Tralee on 21st April, several shops were wrecked by the Crown forces, windows smashed, volleys fired, and a man named Bell wounded; and whether, seeing that this is the third outbreak in Tralee and its neighbourhood since 16th April, any steps have yet been taken to restore discipline among the forces stationed there?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODTralee is in the martial law area, and I have accordingly obtained a report from the Commander-in-Chief. It is as follows:—
Following the murder of temporary constable Loughlin, Auxiliary Division, Royal Irish Constabulary, in the bar of Knightley's Hotel, Tralee, on 21st April, 1921, the military governor ordered the destruction of the hotel, as it was known to be a resort of active Sinn Feiners, of which the owner must have been aware. The destruction was carried out on 22nd April, 1921. No shops were wrecked, nor were any volleys fired by the forces of the Crown. A few windows were broken, but there is no evidence whatever that this was the work of the forces employed. A man named Bell was fired on while running away after having been challenged three times by a sentry. He was wounded and subsequently died.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERHas the right hon. Gentleman any knowledge whence the false charges contained in these questions come?
§ 18. Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the house of Mr. David Clancy, of Kilfinane, county Cork, was destroyed in the month of February by military or police as a reprisal for the burning of an aeroplane which had descended close by, and that the police now admit that this was due to a mistake; and whether any steps have been taken to compensate the owners of the house and to fix the responsibility for the error?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThis arose in the martial law area. I have asked the Commander-in-Chief to make inquiries into this case and shall be glad if the hon. Member will repeat his question on Thursday of next week.
§ 19. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of houses that have been destroyed by order of the Crown forces, and the number destroyed in unofficial reprisals during this month; and whether he will state the number of persons killed during the last fortnight and the number of ex-service men killed or wounded by Crown forces or by other persons?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI shall be glad if the Noble Lord will on Thursday of next week repeat his question, of which I only received notice yesterday.
§ Captain W. BENNIs no report made to the right hon. Gentleman of these official reprisals that take place in Ireland?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODYes, I see reports, but this question involves a large number of statistics dealing with reprisals and other matters, and it is impossible for me to make a clear answer to it.
§ Captain BENNDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to say he has not had in his possession from day to day the reports of these burnings that take place by his orders in Ireland?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI do not know what the hon. and gallant Gentleman means by the last part of his question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOf course they are your orders.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe only reprisals that take place are the reprisals in the martial law area. The Commander-in-Chief has full discretion to support the force by leave of His Majesty's Government. In all matters dealing with Ireland it is essential that the Chief Secretary should have due notice, in order to get the statistics prepared. It is very difficult to ask men to leave their proper duty of putting down crime in order that they may prepare statistics for hon. Members.
§ 13. Mr. GALBRAITHasked the Chief Secretary whether Peter Dempsey, a man who had served four years in the Royal Air Force, was killed by members of the Crown forces in a lorry at Summerhill, Dublin, on the evening of 22nd April; whether an inquiry has yet been held and with what result; and whether the perpetrator of this outrage has been identified?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe court of inquiry found that death in this case was caused by a bullet fired by a member of the Crown forces in the execution of his duty, on the refusal of the deceased man to halt when called upon to do so. Though there is now every reason to suppose this unfortunate man guiltless of any criminal intention, I must point out that, under present conditions in Ireland, where large numbers of armed and dangerous criminals are at large, the forces of the Crown are not deserving of censure when they fire upon persons who in suspicious circumstances refuse to obey the order to halt and account for their actions.
§ Major M. WOODIs any rank and file constable entitled to take any man he likes, and put him as a hostage on a police lorry?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo.