§ 30. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent applications he has considered from American historians writing the life of Sir Roger Casement to visit Pentonville Prison; the nature of their applications; and his reply.
§ Mr. RentonThere has been one such application recently, from an American historian who wished to see the place where Casement was imprisoned and where he was buried. He was informed that it is a long-established practice not to 501 allow visits to the graves of persons executed in prisons, and that the Home Secretary was sorry that he did not feel able to make an exception to the general rule in his favour.
§ Mr. HughesAs this execution took place 40 years ago, is not it rather mean to refuse an American citizen permission to see the grave?
§ Mr. RentonI am sure that on reflection the hon. Member will agree that we have to be very careful to prevent any kind of sight-seeing in prisons. It is very difficult to avoid creating precedents by agreeing in a case of this kind.