§ Mr. O'LEARYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the circumstances under which John J. Cassidy, retired from the prison service at Cork, was deprived of his pension; whether Mr. Cassidy had completed thirty-two years' meritorious service and had been presented with the Imperial Service medal in recognition of his long and devoted attention to duty; whether, he having in response to the Government call volunteered for and obtained a position at Woolwich Arsenal in 1915, the prison authorities thereupon withdrew his pension; whether he can state the reason for this; and whether the authorities, taking into consideration this apparent act of injustice will restore his pension and make it retrospective as from the date on which it was cut off?
§ Mr. DUKEMr. J. J. Cassidy was retired from the situation of ordinary warder in the General Prisons Service, Ireland, on 10th July, 1915, on the ground of permanent infirmity of body at the age of fifty-four. He had served thirty complete years, and was awarded a pension of £33 9s. 9d., and an additional allowance of £100 0s. 4d., and the Imperial Service Medal. After his retirement he was re-employed first by the Admiralty, secondly, by the Ministry of Munitions. As his earnings now greatly exceed the pay which he received in his former office his pension has been suspended in accordance with the express provisions of Section 20 of the Superannuation Act, 1834. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.