§ Mr. GRUNDYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the two officers who were detailed by the chief warder of Mountjoy Prison to escort prisoners from Mountjoy to Armagh for trial at the recent summer assizes have ever performed similar or any escort duty before if so, have they been guilty of any act which should bar them from again being allowed to perform such duty; are they capable, competent, and trustworthy officers in every respect; if so, will he now say why they were taken off their duty by the governor on this particular occasion after being detailed by the chief warder to perform it; and what special qualification the officer selected by the governor possesses for performing escort duty?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question asked on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham West (Mr. Hayday) on the 22nd July. The selection of officers for escort duty rests with the governor, not the chief warder, and I see no reason to interfere with the discretion of the governor in this matter.