HC Deb 02 March 1921 vol 138 cc1811-3W
Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is now in a position to state what report he has received from the court of inquiry into the murder of Alderman Thomas Haplin and Mr. John Moran, two highly respected citizens of Drogheda, who were taken from their homes on the night of 8th February by armed men and shot dead on a road outside the town?

Mr. HENRY

The answer is in the negative. I hope to receive the report of the court of inquiry in the next few days.

Mr. F. HALL

asked the Chief Secretary whether Jeremiah Kinnane, who was seriously wounded by men in uniform on an occasion when two men, Ryan and Gleeson, were also visited and murdered in their homes by the same party, was removed by the police from Thurles hospital; and, if so, was it by authority and for what purpose?

Mr. HENRY

I am informed that this man when interviewed by a police sergeant who visited the workhouse hospital on the 23rd ultimo in the course of his ordinary duty gave what was at once seen to be a false name and address and was therefore taken to the local police barrack for identification. On his identity being discovered he was at once released as he was not wanted for any offence. The whole incident lasted no more than 20 minutes and he suffered no discomfort or inconvenience during any part of the time.

Mr. HIRST

asked the Chief Secretary whether members of the armed forces of the Crown entered the house of the manager of the co-operative creamery at Ballymacelligott, on the evening of Christmas Day; whether two men, Maurice Reidy and John Leen, found there, were both shot dead, though they offered no armed resistance; whether the house was subsequently set on fire by the Crown forces; whether any military inquiry in lieu of inquest has been held into the circumstances of the death of the two; and, if so, what were the findings of the inquiry?

Mr. HENRY

A Military Court of Inquiry held into the deaths of these two men found that they were shot by the forces of the Crown, who fired in the execution of their duty, and that no blame whatsoever attached to the Crown forces. Both men refused to hold up their hands when called upon to do so, and one of them (John Leen) fired at the officer in charge of the Crown forces with a revolver loaded with dum-dum bullets. The house of the creamery manager in which this occurrence took place was thereupon destroyed by the Crown forces to prevent its further use as a rendezvous for armed rebels.

Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the conduct of the Crown forces recently in Carndonagh, County Donegal; whether he is aware that some members of the auxiliary forces, on the night of Wednesday, 23rd February, paraded the streets, under the influence of drink, holding up and searching residents at the point of the revolver, threatening to shoot young girls: whether more serious results were averted only by the action of the local police who took these drunken auxiliaries off the street; and what action he proposes to take in this and similar cases in peaceful districts in Ireland?

Mr. HENRY

I have called for an immediate report with reference to this matter and shall be glad if the hon. Member will repeat the question one day next week.

Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the conduct of the Forces of the Crown in the town of Clones; whether he is aware that on a recent Saturday night respectable young men on their way home were held up in the streets, and assaulted and kicked, without any provocation whatever; whether there have been any shootings or other troubles in the town of Clones, except an outbreak on the part of the Crown Forces, some members of whom had to be removed from the town for gross misconduct; whether it is the policy of the Forces of the Crown when they arrive in a peaceful district to molest and illtreat everyone they meet without any consideration as to parties, position, political inclinations, or otherwise; and the result of his inquiries into the matter?

Mr. HENRY

I am informed that the police at Clones have no knowledge of these alleged occurrences. No complaints have reached them of men being interfered with in the manner described on any recent Saturday night. There have been no outbreaks on the part of any members of the regular Forces of the Crown in Clones and the only removals have been of men transferred in the ordinary course with the exception of one man who was dismissed for a breach of discipline committed before he was sent to Clones. The incident which the hon. Member would appear to have in mind was an outbreak of indiscipline on the part of a body of special constabulary from an adjoining county who visited Clones without authority on the night of the 22nd January and are alleged to have committed certain offences for which several of them have since been arrested and are now awaiting trial. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.