Mr. O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary what statement the Government have to make in reference to the shooting down in the village of Clogheen, a short distance from Cork city, of five young men who had surrendered to the police, and who were shot down after they had been told to run; and whether a public inquiry will be held into this tragedy?
§ Mr. HENRYThe allegation that these men were shot down after surrender and after receiving orders to run is utterly without foundation. The facts are that a party of six men, not five as stated in the question, were located sleeping in an outhouse of a farm. Before the police cordon was drawn completely round the 463W outhouse they became alarmed, fired a revolver shot, and endeavoured to break through the ring under cover of darkness. They were all shot dead in the mêlée which ensued. They were armed with a bomb, revolvers, and dum dum ammunition.