asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that when Thomas Byrne, of Cooleragh, Blackwood, Co. Kildare, was proceeding home from Naas on May 3rd, 1926, his pony got restive and ran away after crossing the Liffey bridge at Caragh, where a party of military were on manoeuvres, and were rifle-firing; that the officer in command led the pony across the bridge, and when he had just travelled ten yards beyond it the military firing was resumed, thereby frightening the pony, which ran up on the ditch and was then thrown on to the road, cutting his two knees and breaking the harness and creel; that Mr. Byrne also had his shoulder injured; whether, as Mr. Byrne's livelihood depended on what he could earn by the cutting and selling of turf, he will have inquiries made with a view to paying his claim for £25 compensation, and whether instructions will be given to ensure that the scene of rifle-firing, in view of the danger to the public, will be removed as far as possible from public roads.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - KILDARE COMPENSATION CLAIM.
The Deputy's question is the first intimation I have received as to the cause of the accident which he describes. Mr. Byrne does not appear to have made a claim to the Department of Defence although I find he has mentioned a question of compensation to the military in Naas. I regret that I have not had time to investigate the circumstances of the accident fully. They are now being duly inquired into. I shall communicate further with the Deputy.