§ 13. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the calling off of Irish Republican Army activities, the amnesty granted his fellow prisoner, Donald Murphy, and the tuberculosis he has suffered in prison, he will now release Joseph Doyle from Wakefield jail, whore he has been imprisoned for the last seven and a half years, and allow him to return to Ireland.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Henry Brooke)I decided last month that, subject to continued good conduct in prison, Doyle should be released on licence in July.
§ Mr. AllaunWhilst I am grateful for that reply—which would have been even more welcome had the information been announced before rather than after the Question was tabled—would the Home Secretary now consider, in view of the three special factors mentioned in the Question, releasing Doyle now? Why wait till July?
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. I cannot go back on my decision in this matter. There have been no signs of active tuberculosis for the last three years, which is one of the points mentioned in the Question, and there is no evidence that imprisonment has been detrimental to Doyle's health.
§ Mr. AllaunBut as the Home Secretary was good enough to allow Doyle, most unusually, to go to Ireland unaccompanied, and he returned, is it not obvious that the man's character is now such as to enable him to be released now without damage to anyone?
§ Mr. BrookeI have taken my decision. I think that it was right to allow Doyle to go to Ireland on parole to attend his mother's funeral, but it would be unfortunate if it were to be accepted that any prisoner who went out on parole and came back should, on that account, be released earlier.