§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked whether eight young Mayo men from Balla and Castle-bar have been arrested on the charge of a man named Thomas Moclair, a paid official under the Old Age Pensions Act in Castlebar, an organiser of the United Irish League, a member of the Board of Erin Secret Society calling themselves "Mollies," and a paid recruiting agent; whether the charge made by this man was that the Irish Volunteers recovered possession of twenty Martini-Henry rifles which were stolen from them by Moclair and his friends of the rival Volunteer organisation by a midnight raid at a time when the Irish Volunteers were on the same legal footing as the rival body; whether Moclair has himself been convicted of discharging firearms in an attempt to put down a public meeting at Crossmolina by terrorism; and whether the young men charged with the recovery of the stolen property will be brought to trial or immediately discharged?
Mr. SAMUELI am informed that the eight men referred to were not arrested on charges made by Mr. Thomas Moclair. Some of them have now been released.
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§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Mr. Joseph O'Flaherty, of Loughrea, now a prisoner at Stafford, is in hospital there; if not, whether he has been medically examined as to his fitness to bear imprisonment, aggravated by the absence of charge or trial; and whether, to avoid fatal consequences to his health he will, without further delay, be either released or tried for any offence that can be alleged against him?
§ Mr. TENNANTMr. O'Flaherty is not detained in hospital. He was medically examined on arrival at this detention barrack, when he complained of "stroke of the tongue," which occurred two years ago. There is no evidence of any paralysis of the tongue at present. He attended hospital for dyspepsia on 19th May, and was medically treated.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware, that a young man named Patrick Sheahan was arrested in his home in Dublin and deported to Wandsworth Prison, where he still is; whether he can say if there is any charge against him beyond the fact that he had Sinn Fein literature and some revolver bullets, but no revolver or rifle in his home when it was searched by the military authorities, and whether, as there was nothing illegal in people having these things in their possession up to the time of the rebellion, he will take steps to see that this is taken into account by the military authorities with a view to his immediate release?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe case of Patrick Sheahan has now been investigated, and he was released on May 29th.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say by whose order and under what prison rule men and women, wounded and otherwise, were confined together in the same rooms for several consecutive days and nights during the first ten days of imprisonment in Richmond Barracks in connection with the insurrection; and whether the officer who so ordered it has been reprimanded?
§ Mr. TENNANTThere is no truth in the allegations made in this question.
§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Mr. Bartholomew O'Connor, of No. 1, Brendon Road, Donnybrook, Dublin, was arrested on 1st May in Dublin, immediately on his return there after having been 31W absent for the previous ten days; whether any inquiries have been made into Mr. O'Connor's case and whether he has been given an opportunity of explaining his whereabouts while absent from Dublin; whether Mr. O'Connor spent from 19th April to 26th April at Brosna, county Kerry, on a visit to his mother, who is ill, and on his way back to Dublin spent from the 26th to the 29th with his brother at Newcastle West, county Limerick; and whether Mr. O'Connor will now be released?
§ Mr. TENNANTThis case has been investigated. The evidence of hostile association is such that no order can at present be made for his release.
§ Mr. GRAHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the charge preferred against Michael Foley, aged twenty-one years, who was deported from Dublin and is now detained as a prisoner in Knutsford Detention Barracks?
§ Mr. TENNANTHe is detained as being implicated in the recent rebellion.
§ Mr. GRAHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of Cavalry in charge of an officer arrested and searched Mr. Thomas Farnell, school teacher, when leaving his school at Cloneygowan, in King's County, on the evening of the 19th instant, refusing at the same time to prefer any charge against him, and that after taking him back to his school, which was minutely searched by the soldiers, and afterwards to his lodgings, which were also searched, the officer charged Mr. Farnell with having destroyed any Sinn Fein literature he might have had, and that Mr. Farnell denied having had any nor any connection with the Sinn Fein movement; whether he is aware that the officer then accused him with having treated the troops with disrespect by deliberately turning the pupils' backs to them, which the prisoner denied, explaining the children's behaviour; whether he will state the instructions given to the officer on the morning of the 18th instant on moving the troops in question from Tullamore to Portarlington, which led to the aggravation and insult of peaceable citizens; and whether an apology will be offered to Mr. Farnell, who feels aggrieved that such a charge should be made against him, and that he should suffer such treatment?
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§ Mr. TENNANTNo report has been received of the occurrences alleged in this question. No special instructions were issued to the officer in command of these troops. The troops were searching for arms and seditious documents.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the prisoners transferred from Cork to Dublin on 9th May were neither given nor allowed to procure for themselves food from 6.30 a.m. at Cork Gaol, and at 7 a.m. at Cork Barracks, on the 9th until 9 a.m. on the 10th May; why the military authorities refused to give, for the purpose of procuring food, money which they held belonging to some of the prisoners; whether he is aware that the elder men were fainting from hunger; by whose order this treatment was given; and what official notice has been taken of it?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe prisoners were sent from Cork to Dublin on 9th May, and were supplied with breakfast before leaving. They were also supplied with tea and biscuits on arrival at Richmond Barracks, Dublin, the same afternoon. There is no truth in the allegations made in the latter portion of this question.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that nine men have been arrested at dead of night in Strabane and its vicinity without charge or warrant, not by the military, but by the police, who, when asked what the charge was, answered that they did not know; under what authority the military empower the police to arrest men in their houses without charge or warrant; all have been arrested in similar circumstances, and all being similarly able to give evidence of entire innocence of recent disturbances, will he explain the difference in treatment, some having been released at the instance of the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, some detained in Dublin, while John Cassidy, Bernard M'Kenna, and Daniel Doherty are now prisoners at Lewes, and Patrick Duncan and James Greaves at Wakefield; why affidavits sent to the military authorities showing the position of these men to be identical with that of those released have neither been used nor acknowledged; and, non-intervention on behalf of these men being due to local party politics and, the only fact distinguishing their cases from those released, whether these five men will be released immediately?
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§ Mr. TENNANTThese arrests were effected by the normal procedure under the Defence of the Realm Act. The evidence is not the same in all the Strabane cases. Decisions have been arrived at in these, as in all cases; in accordance with the evidence produced at the Inquiry. Affidavits and other communications are acknowledged as soon as possible after receipt, and due consideration given to them.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will have Messrs. O'Leary. Curtis and John M'Elvogue, who are detained at Wandsworth, William Ganly and Richard Humphreys, who are detained at Wakefield, and Count Plunkett and Alderman Thomas; Kelly, wherever detained, medically examined, and the opinions of their respective medical attendants considered, with a view to their immediate release, since they have not yet been charged with any offence, and can give security for subsequent appearance before a civil tribunal if required?
§ Mr. TENNANTAs has repeatedly been stated, the cases of all the men arrested are being investigated as quickly as possible, and releases are daily taking place. It would obviously be unfair to take particular cases up for investigation specially out of the natural order simply because they have been made the subject of a Parliamentary question. Any medical aspects of particular cases are taken into consideration. Alderman Kelly and Mr. O'Leary Curtis have now been released.
§ Mr. P. MEEHANasked the Prime Minister whether the cases of P. J. Kelly, who is detained at Knutsford, and of J. J. M'Elligot and Frank Burke, who are in Stafford Detention Prison, have been yet investigated; and whether they will be released at an early date?
§ Mr. TENNANTP. J. Kelly was released on 25th May. J J. M'Elligot was released on 28th May. The case of Frank Burke is at present under investigation. I have assumed that the question relates to Pat Kelly, of 178, North King Street, Dublin, and to Frank Burke, of Coorough, Carbury, county Kildare.
§ Mr. O'SULLIVANasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that five young men from Killarney, some from Fories, and some from Castleisland, were arrested under martial law, were removed first to Cork; and from there to Dublin; 34W whether he can say if any charge was made against those men or has yet been made; if so, what it is; if such charge is made will they be given a public trial and allowed to be defended by counsel; and, if no charge is contemplated, will they be released at once?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not in a position to confirm what is stated in the first part of the question, but I accept it from my hon. Friend that some men were arrested from the districts named. They will be dealt with under the general instructions already issued and made public. Any who are innocent of any complicity in, or connection with, the rebellion will be released as soon as investigation shall have established such absence of complicity.
§ Mr. MEEHANasked the Prime Minister how many persons were arrested in Queen's County in connection with the recent trouble in Ireland; if Queen's County remained absolutely peaceful during the period; and whether, under the circumstances, the continued enforcement of martial law in the district is justifiable or necessary?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe exact number cannot be given, but it is not large. As regards the continuance of martial law, I would refer the hon. Member to what has been said in debate and in reply to questions by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. MEEHANasked the Prime Minister (1) whether the case of James Dwyer, formerly of Shanra, Gracefield, Queen's County, a tradesman who was arrested in Dublin during the recent rebellion, and who is at present in Wandsworth Prison, has yet been investigated; whether this man will be released at an early date; and (2) if the investigation into the case of Thomas Fox, painter, formerly of Maryborough, Queen's County, who was arrested during the recent disturbance in Ireland at Newtownbarry and deported to Stafford Detention Prison, and who had no connection with the rising, is yet completed; and if he can say when this man, who has a wife and child dependent on his earnings will be released?
§ Mr. TENNANTThese cases are still being investigated.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Arthur O'Donnell, the only prisoner arrested in West Clare in connection with the late 35W rising, is detained at Lewes Prison, and that though he has not been informed of any charge against him he is treated as though he was a convict; and whether, in view of the fact that there were no disturbances of any kind throughout county Glare, he will consider it advisable that Arthur O'Donnell should be released?
§ Mr. TENNANTThis case has been thoroughly inquired into. It was decided that he could not be released, and an internment order under Defence of the Realm Regulation 14B has been applied for. This regulation will give him the right to apply to the Advisory Committee referred to therein.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Prime Minister whether he will take immediate steps to release the prisoners from county Clare, and particularly the brothers Hunt, of Corofin, Mr. Kearse, of Corofin, Mr. A. O'Donnell, of Tullycrine, and Mr. O'Loughlin, of Carron, all of whom are very extensive farmers who were in no way connected with the movement, and whose businesses will be ruined if they are kept in prison any longer?
§ Mr. TENNANTI learn that the brothers Hunt have now been released, but I have no similar information in regard to the other persons mentioned.
§ Mr. MEEHANasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that a man named Frowley, who was arrested at Wolfhill, Queen's County, for taking some articles out of the police barracks during the recent disturbance in Ireland and was deported to Perth Detention Prison, had no connection with the rebels and is well known in the district as not being mentally sound; and whether, under the circumstances, this man will be released and sent home without delay?
§ Mr. TENNANTThis case is being investigated, and if no hostile association detrimental to the public safety is apparent the military authorities will order his release. A note has been made as to this man not being mentally sound.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the Prime Minister if one of the prisoners he interviewed in Richmond Barracks was Mr. Thomas Nolan, town clerk of Carrickma-cross, arrested on 5th May; whether Mr. Nolan protested against his arrest as being wholly unjustified, and General Maxwell then told an officer to make a note of the case; whether, notwithstanding that 36W meanwhile no trace of incriminatory evidence has been found against Mr. Nolan, he was deported to Lewes Detention Barracks on 19th May, while his sister was not admitted to Richmond Barracks until 20th May, to be informed of his deportation; whether, as he has a wife and six children dependent on him, and Carrickmacross was not disturbed during the rebellion, he and the seven others arrested with him will either be tried or discharged; or, if they and other untried Irish prisoners are to be kept in exile, will they receive as good treatment as is given to interned Germans?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis case has been thoroughly inquired into. It was decided that Mr. Nolan could not be released, and an internment order under Regulation 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations has been applied for. This Regulation will give Mr. Nolan the right to apply to the Advisory Committee mentioned therein.