§ Captain W. BENNasked the Chief Secretary why County Inspector King was not present to give evidence at the Mallow inquiry; whether cross-examination of witnesses was permitted; whether speeches by counsel were permitted; whether the Press reports were required to be supervised in any way by the Court; whether the president of the Court at Mallow said he had his orders and he was going to carry them out; and, if so, to what orders he referred?
§ Mr. HENRYCaptain and County Inspector King was not present at the Mallow inquiry into the murder of his wife and others because he was himself wounded in the attack and was physically unable to attend it. His evidence was placed before the Court in the usual form of a statement taken on oath before a magistrate. The late gallant Colonel Commandant Cumming, president of the Court, allowed counsel for the railway-men to examine and cross-examine, to call and recall any and every witness he wished. The solicitor for the railway-men was supplied with a copy of the evidence taken prior to the briefing of460W Mr. Healy, K.C., counsel for the railway-men, so that he could recall witnesses and cross-examine them on their evidence. He did not make a speech at the conclusion because such a speech was not deemed necessary by the Court. Press reports were supervised by the Court because a state of rebellion exists in that part of Ireland, and the Court must consider the interests and lives of witnesses and the officers of the Court. Many witnesses and officers have been murdered because of the publicity given to their names. The president of the Court, the late Colonel Commandant Cumming, D.S.O., was murdered by Sinn Feiners before the inquiry was concluded. The orders he carried out were the orders of the Commander-in-Chief in Ireland.