§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the number of Irishmen temporarily resident in Great Britain who are being compulsorily made subject to military law; if his attention has been drawn to the cases of James Bray, in Moss Hill Camp, Winchester, a Dublin carpenter, engaged on work of national importance, now awaiting court-martial, John Dooner, No. 18533, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Dreghorn Camp, Midlothian, and W. E. Holloway Miller, guard room, North Fall Meadow, Dover; if he is aware that instructions have been issued to send Dooner and Miller out to France on the first draft before their cases can be fully considered; and if he will issue instructions to cancel these Orders so as to give time for full consideration of these objections and, if the objections are overruled, that they will not be sent to France without proper training?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInstructions were issued in September last that Irish labourers who were ordinarily resident in Ireland, and only resident in Great Britain for some seasonal occupation or for the purpose of being employed connection with dock transport work or munition work, or other contracts with a Government Department, were not to be called up for military service if the recruiting officer was satisfied that they were ordinarily resident in Ireland and only temporarily resident in Great Britain for some special purpose. My attention was drawn to the case of James Bray by the hon. Member, who has already been informed that Bray was arrested by the civil police as a suspected absentee from military service, and taken before one of the London stipendiary magistrates, who, after hearing the necessary evidence, decided that Bray was liable for military service, and ordered him to be handed over to the military authorities. The hon. Member has been informed that if he will supply further particulars of this case further inquiries will be made. Inquiries are being made into the cases of Dooner and Miller.