§ 6. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will have inquiries made into the circumstances attending the death of Eugene O'Connell, late of 17, Broad Lane, Cork, on the night of Wednesday, 17th November last; whether at the court of inquiry there was any attempt to counter the evidence of the widow that the man who shot her husband wore policeman's uniform; and why the widow is receiving no pension, seeing that her husband was a pensioner, having served 284 with the Royal Munster Fusiliers from 1912 until 1918, when he was discharged with his right arm paralysed by a wound and wounded in both legs?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood)The finding of the court of inquiry in this case was that O'Connell, who was an ex-soldier, was wilfully murdered by some person unknown. The widow stated in her evidence that the murderer wore policeman's uniform, and this clue has been investigated, but without result. The fact that crimes are committed from time to time by men in police uniform does not warrant the assumption that the criminals are policemen, as quantities of uniform have been stolen by the rebels, and are used by them for their own illegal purposes. The last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not the case that had this man O'Connell, who had been a soldier, been a policeman, his wife would have got her compensation, but that, merely because, although an ex-soldier who had been wounded in France, he had not joined the police, his widow gets nothing whatever when he is murdered in the country for which the right hon. Gentleman is responsible? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he should exert himself to get some compensation for this poor widow?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODAs far as that is concerned, the law is exactly the same in Ireland as in England. I have referred the hon. and gallant Member to the Minister of Pensions, who, I have no doubt, will consider the case.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is his duty himself to refer to the Minister of Pensions in this case?
§ 12. Mr. GALBRAITHasked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has yet been held into the death of William Moran, an ex-soldier, at Dungarvan, on 13th April, and with what result; whether, on the same night, four houses were destroyed; whether this was done by the Crown forces; and, if so, whether it was an official or an unofficial reprisal?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODDungarvan is in the martial law area, and I am in- 285 formed by the Commander-in-Chief that a court of inquiry in lieu of inquest found that William Moran had been murdered by persons unknown. On 14th April, at about 2 a.m., two houses belonging to Mrs. Fahy and Mrs. Fitzgerald were set on fire by armed and masked men. This was not an official reprisal, and there is no evidence that any members of the Crown forces were concerned in this act of destruction. Troops and police assisted to put out the fires. Inquiries into the matter were made at once, and are still proceeding.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhen the right hon. Gentleman talks about "official reprisals," does that mean that there is an official policy of reprisals?
§ Captain W. BENNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Leader of the House has denied that there is such a thing as official reprisals?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThis question of reprisals has been thoroughly discussed, and I have nothing to add to the statements I have frequently made.