asked the Minister for Defence whether a claim for arrears of pay has been received from Captain George O'Hara, late Military Governor of Wicklow Gaol, and if he can state when the claim will be dealt with.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARREARS OF PAY.
Captain O'Hara claims pay and dependents allowance for April, May, and June, 1922. This matter will be disposed of at an early date, and I will notify the Deputy of the result.
He also claims additional pay whilst acting as Military Governor at Wicklow Gaol. This claim is inadmissible, as such pay was not issuable in respect of that particular prison. Captain O'Hara was notified accordingly on the 18th June last.
Is it not a fact that he was appointed to this position by his superior officer, and actually performed the duties, and can the Deputy inform me why such pay is not issuable?
He was not a military governor in the ordinary sense at all. There was no military governor of that prison.
Did he perform the duties, was he appointed, and has he got papers to show he was appointed by his superior officer to that post?
He was not appointed to that post by any officer having authority to appoint him to it.
Did he perform the duties without any authority, or had he authority when he performed the duties?
No person had authority to appoint a military governor of that prison. There was no military governor of that prison. It was not a prison in the ordinary sense at all. It was merely a temporary detention barracks.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that his superior officer, in Kildare I think, handed him a letter informing him that his duty was to go there with prisoners, take charge of the prison, and act as governor of that prison for a period, and that he made certain arrangements regarding pay?
What would have happened to Captain O'Hara if he had refused to obey the order on the ground that no person could be appointed to that post and that his superior officer had no authority to appoint him—would he not have been courtmartialled?
Possibly.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that fourteen days' pay and ration allowance are owing to ex-Volunteer John Wright, No. 27534, following his discharge; that Wright was attached to Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade, Limerick, and was discharged on June 28th last; and whether this case will be enquired into and payment expedited.
A cheque has now been sent to Mr. Wright in settlement of his claim.