To ask the Minister for Defence if he is aware of the dangerous and indiscriminate firing by military guards in Droichead Nua Internment Barracks, by which a boy named Matthew Hennigan was wounded on the night of the 19th instant in the public street, when numbers of people were returning from the local picture house; and whether he will take such measures as may be necessary to protect the public from such dangerous firing in the future; and, further, if he will grant compensation to the parents of the boy for any losses incurred by them.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - WOUNDING AT DROICHEAD NUA.
I am informed that the allegation regarding firing from the barracks is without foundation. The wounding of Matthew Hennigan was reported at 10.15 p.m. on the 19th October. Neighbouring sentries were interrogated at once and their rifles examined, but there was no evidence as to who fired or as to the direction from which the shot came.
Will the Minister state whether he is prepared to grant compensation to the relatives of the boy for any loss they may have sustained through his unemployment?
You will have to address that question to the Minister for Defence.
I am credibly informed that another person was injured yesterday.
You can only ask questions of Ministers at this particular time.