11. Mr. BECKETTasked the Home Secretary whether he has received a request from Mr. H. P. O'Brien for permission to visit some Irish prisoners now in Maidstone gaol; whether the request was granted; and, if not, what was the reason for refusal?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSAn application for permission to visit was received by the Prison Commissioners from Mr. O'Brien, but was not granted, because the visit did not appear to fall within the purposes for which visits are allowed. The Commissioners' decision has my entire approval.
12. Mr. BECKETTasked the Home Secretary whether he has received any representations with regard to the release of B. Sazo, J. Foley, and J. Galvin, now in Maidstone Prison, and P. Green, at Dartmoor; what answer he has made; and whether he has taken into consideration the circumstances in which the crime of these men was committed?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the reference is to Jago, Foley, Gavin, and Breen, I have received no representations apart from certain petitions from Breen, the last of which reached me in June, 1928. Breen's petitions were duly considered, and I caused him to be informed 538 that I could not see my way to advise any interference with the sentence passed upon him by the Court.
Mr. BECKETTI beg the right hon. Gentleman's pardon for getting the first name wrong, but could he not tell me whether, when he considered this appeal, he considered the fact that, although there was a criminal offence, the men were acting as instructed members of the Irish Republican Army, and in view of the fact that after that raid the Government, of which I think the right hon. Gentleman was himself a member, negotiated with the leaders who ordered the raid, could he not consider it in a different manner from that in which he would consider an ordinary criminal offence?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSSo far as I am concerned, I have nothing to do with political reasons. If a criminal is convicted by a jury in this country for feloniously wounding and shooting with intent to murder, that is the only point I take into consideration.
Mr. BECKETTWould the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to consider special representations, in view of the high political enthusiasm and excitement, in regard to these men?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am afraid I cannot hold out any hope to the hon. Member of my reducing these sentences on political grounds. At the same time, if the hon. Member has any grounds that would properly induce me to invoke the prerogative of mercy, I am always open to receive any representations from any responsible persons.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs there any reason why, because a man is a rebel, he should be let off lightly?