§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his atten- 856W tion has been called to the fact that the windows of Wakefield Prison, in which Irish untried suspects are detained, are level with the surface of the ground outside and the cells therefore 6 feet underground, and that gas is continually burning and leaking in the corridor; whether any independent medical opinion defends the use of this underground prison with its gaseous atmosphere for untried prisoners; and when they are to be tried or released?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir; I have received no information in this sense. This prison was handed over by the civil authorities a short time ago for the use of the military temporarily. As a civil prison it no doubt complies with the sanitary and other conditions laid down for such prisons. Those men who are not released are being interned and their cases will come before the Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. JOHN WALSHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state on what charge Denis M'Carthy, Con Ahern, William Duggan, T. O'Shea, and Con O'Sullivan, all of Dunmanway, county Cork, have been arrested and deported to England; whether, if no offence in the recent rebellion can be alleged against any of them, they will be at once liberated; and, if not, what is the reason for keeping them for six weeks without trial?
§ Mr. TENNANTThis will be a matter for consideration by the Advisory Committee, the prisoners having been interned under the powers granted by Regulation 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations.
§ Mr. JOHN WALSHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why J. B. O'Driscoll, a member of the rural district council, Skibbereen, county Cork, is still detained in prison; and if he is aware that he is the only support of his mother and that his health is failing under prison treatment?
§ Mr. TENNANTThis man has been interned under Regulation 14 B Defence of the Realm Regulations, and his case will no doubt be considered by the Advisory Committee.
§ Sir WILLIAM BYLESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Darrell Figgis', a literary gentleman, who was residing in Achill Island at the time of the recent Irish rebellion; whether this gentleman is now in Stafford Gaol in solitary confinement; 857W whether there is the slightest evidence of his complicity in the rebellion; whether his house was battered in by twenty armed policemen; whether he was taken, without resistance on his part, first to Castlebar Gaol and then to Richmond Barracks, Dublin, and afterwards to Stafford; whether there was any disturbance at all in his county; and how long he will be kept in solitary confinement, without charge or trial, and without permission to communicate with his wife and friends?
Mr. SAMUELMr. Figgis is at present interned at Stafford Detention Barracks in pursuance of an Order made by me under Regulation 14 B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. The question of his complicity in the rebellion will be considered by the Advisory Committee by whom his appeal against the Order will be heard. He is not and has not been in solitary confinement and is allowed to communicate with his wife and friends. It appears that on the occasion of his arrest he did not open his door when summoned to do so, and after an interval it was found necessary to force it open. Perhaps this is the incident referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will cause to be altered the visiting conditions at Frongoch camp so as to enable visitors travelling forty miles to be admitted at any time they arrive; if he is aware that visitors from Cork, after travelling 300 miles, were refused admission; and if he is aware that a Member of this House who travelled all night to reach the camp was refused admission and turned away without seeing his friends?
Mr. SAMUELThe ordinary rules for internment camps apply to Frongoch, and, as at present advised, I do not see my way to relax them.