asked the minister for Defence whether an application has been received from Mr. E. Lanphier, of Dun Laoghaire, for the return of a sporting gun handed over to the British Authorities, and now a Island Bridge Barracks; whether he can state the date of this application, and whether the issue of the gun can be expedited.
CEISTEANNA-QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RETURN OF SPORTING GUN (DUN LAOGHAIRE).
Mr. Lanphier's application was dated the 5th October last. Owing to inaccuracy in records the gun could not be identified until recently, when it was accidentally found registered under the name of "Phampier." The gun will be returned to Mr. Lanphier on production of the receipt given by the British Authorities and the usual police permit.
Is the Minister aware there are a good many complaints about the difficulty of getting guns from Island Bridge, and will he look into the matter?
The matter of dealing with the guns left us by the British at Island Bridge has had very serious and constant consideration from us. There is a very big mass of weapons there, and the records left us in connection with those weapons are anything but satisfactory. Every effort is being made to deal with a very intricate and difficult matter. Personally I feel that a very great mistake has been made in accepting those weapons and those records.