asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that the late Volunteer John Murnaghan, Latton, Co. Monaghan, who had pre-Truce service with the South Monaghan flying column and who joined the National Army on its formation, was permanently disabled by machine-gun fire during an attack by Irregulars on Dundalk Barracks in 1922; that on his discharge from hospital he was awarded a pension of 16s. 9d. per week; that his father is in financial difficulties, and whether, in view of these circumstances, payment of funeral expenses of this Volunteer, who died in May, 1925, can be made.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - VOLUNTEER'S FUNERAL EXPENSES.
The late Volunteer John Murnaghan was discharged from the Forces on the 15th March, 1924. At the time of his death, he was in receipt of a wound pension of 25/2 a week in respect of injuries to his knee and thigh. I understand that he died on the 10th May last as a result of pneumonia. There are no funds at my disposal out of which could be paid funeral expenses in the case of any deceased ex-member of the Forces. I regret that I am, therefore, not in a position to make a grant in the present instance.
I would like to ask the Minister if it is possible that this man's funeral expenses could be paid? He was a good man in the old days, and he was also in the National Army. The funeral expenses, £11 16s., are still owing.
I have no funds at my disposal out of which these expenses could be paid. It has never been done and there is no means of paying them according to law; there are no funds out of which we could pay the funeral expenses of deceased ex-members of the forces.