HC Deb 06 July 1959 vol 608 cc1081-2

Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Mr. Brooman- White.]

1.30 a.m.

Mr. Eric Fletcher (Islington, East)

I must apologise to the Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department that he should have been kept waiting until such a late hour for this debate, but, as he and the House are aware, this is a matter of great public importance and I therefore make no apology for raising it at this late hour.

On Tuesday, 19th May, two of my constituents, Mr. Thomas Halloran of 53, Isledon Road, and Mr. Patrick Joseph Cox of 17, Travers Road, called to see me. They gave me a detailed and graphic account of how, on the previous Sunday evening, 17th May, they had been brutally beaten, disfigured and kicked by a police sergeant and two or three police constables at Hornsey Road police station, with the result that on their release in the early hours of 18th May, their wounds and injuries had to be treated and dressed at the Royal Northern Hospital.

They had been taken to Hornsey Road police station, arising out of an incident at the Clarence public house, Seven Sisters Road. Mr. Halloran's condition when I saw him showed obvious signs that he had recently suffered considerable violence. His eyes were badly swollen, he had cuts on his face and forehead, and other bruises on his face. His neck showed signs of serious bruising and he complained of having been kicked in the ribs by one of the police officers after he had been knocked on the floor. I interviewed Mr. Cox separately. The injuries of which he complained were less serious, but he had been present during the assault on Mr. Halloran and confirmed that Mr. Halloran had been held by two police constables while two or three others proceeded to punch and batter him until he collapsed on the ground, when he was violently kicked by one of the officers.

Having received particulars of the incident immediately after the event, I thought it my duty to investigate it as far as I was able to do so.

Notice taken that 40 Members were not present;

House counted, and, 40 Members not being present, adjourned at twenty-three minutes to Two o'clock till this day.