asked the Minister for Justice if Warder M. Heffernan, Galway Prison, was suspended from duty on January 26th, 1924, and tried before Judge Piggott on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences, on March 27th, 1924, and acquitted; and whether he was not reinstated to duty till last June; if the officer has lost in salary and allowances nearly £264, and if any steps have been taken to compensate him for this loss.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PRISON WARDER'S SUSPENSION.
Warder M. Heffernan was arrested at Limerick in January, 1923, on a charge of obtaining money and drink by means of obsolete postal orders, and was suspended from duty. He was tried at Limerick Quarter Sessions on the 27th March, 1924, when he was found "not guilty" by a jury, and was acquitted. He was allowed to resume duty on the 26th June, 1924. Apart from the question of his guilt or innocence of the offence with which he was charged, this warder's conduct, which led to his arrest (including a tour from publichouse to publichouse) was highly discreditable, and the only doubt which I have in the matter is whether an error was not made on the side of leniency by allowing him to resume duty. I cannot accept the suggestion that he should receive compensation for loss of salary while suspended.