§ Mr. LUNNasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a report from County Court Judge Bodkin stating that it was proved in his Court in county Clare at the Hilary quarter sessions, in 139 cases, that criminal 574W injuries were committed by the armed forces of the Crown against the inhabitants; that the total amount of compensation payable to the injured was £187,046; that the compensation already awarded in criminal injury claims in the county is over a quarter of a million; and that, in his opinion, it is impossible for the ratepayers, already ruined by the loss of their property, to support such a burden; and whether, where the criminal injury is clearly proved against forces of the Crown, he will take steps to see that compensation is paid out of the public Treasury?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether County Court Judge Bodkin has reported that there came before him at the Hilary Sessions for the County of Clare 139 cases in which it was proved that Government forces committed criminal injuries amounting to £187,046 19s. 3d. against persons entirely guiltless of offence; whether any steps have been taken to bring those guilty of murder, arson, and violence against men, women, and children to justice; and whether the Government have given any instructions to prevent the continuance of such outrages by the armed forces of the Crown?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether County Court Judge Bodkin has reported that it was proved before him at the Hilary Sessions for the County of Clare that on the night of 22nd September, in the course of an invasion by the armed forces of the Government on the town of Ennistymon, when the town hall and a large number of houses were set on fire and destroyed, a young man named Conole was seized in the street by a party of men under command of an officer and, in spite of the pleading of his wife and children, was shot, and that his charred remains were found next morning in his own house, which had been burnt; and whether any steps have been taken to bring those guilty of this murder and arson to justice?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but the facts as so stated are not in accordance with the military report furnished immediately after the in- 575W cidents referred to. Following an ambush of police between Miltown Mal-bay and Ennistymon on the 22nd September, in which six constables wore brutally murdered by explosive bullets, a number of houses in Ennistymon were destroyed by troops acting under military instructions. Conole was shot in attempting to escape from custody, and his house was burned in the presence of a military officer, who denies the allegation that the body was thrown into the flames and burned.
§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether four houses have been burnt to the ground at Cappawhite, and three houses, with a quantity of hay and straw, at Ballinhassig since 16th January last; and, if so, whether these burnings were carried out by the forces of the Crown with the authority of His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. HENRYI am inquiring into this matter. If the hon. Member will repeat the question one day next week I shall endeavour to give him the information for which he asks.
§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, on Tuesday last, the 15th of February, the house of James Coffey, farmer, of Breaghina, County Cork, was raided at 2 a.m., and his two sons, James, aged 22, and Timothy, aged 25, taken out and shot dead; and whether he has any information as to the person responsible for the crime?
§ Mr. HENRYAccording to a police report which I have received, these men were murdered in the manner and circumstances described in the hon. Member's question, but no information has been obtained as to the persons by whom the crime was committed. I am awaiting the report of the military inquiry in lieu of inquest.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH - BENTINCKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that on 23rd December Andrew Moynihan was arrested at his house in county Kerry, the only charge against him being that a receipt for £1 paid to the Irish Republican Army was found in his house; that he was seen by a relative leaving Killarney in a motorcar, accompanied by several lorries full of auxiliaries and a machine gun before and after; that a telegram was received 576W on 26th December telling his relatives to remove his remains from the mortuary church at Tralee, where they had been since 24th December; that, after Moynihan was removed from his home, 50 stacks of his hay, a hay-barn, and several stacks of oats belonging to him were burned; and whether this killing and burning was done by the forces of the Crown under instructions; and, if so, with what object in view?
§ Mr. HENRYA military court of inquiry, in lieu of inquest, into the death of Moynihan found that he was shot while attempting to escape from custody, and that no blame attaches to the members of his escort, who fired in the execution of their duty. I have called for a police report in regard to the allegation as to the burning of his hay, and I would ask the Noble Lord to repeat this part of his question one day next week.