§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that at a Special Court held in Tuam on 5th June, before Captain Holmes, Royal Marines, four men, acting, it is alleged, on behalf of a Sinn Fein Court Martial, were charged with arresting and imprisoning a man called Connolly; that they were remanded in custody for eight days, but subsequently one of them accepted bail; and on what grounds bail was granted, in view of the serious nature of the charge and the great difficulty of effecting an arrest in Ireland when once a prisoner is out of the custody of the police or military?
§ Mr. HENRYCaptain Holmes, who held the Special Court, is a resident Magistrate and not a member of the Royal Marines. He dealt with the cases under his jurisdiction as a Justice and admitted one of the men to bail. The granting of bail is a matter entirely for the resident Magistrate, and there is no power to interfere with his discretion, which I have no reason to believe was other than properly exercised.