asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that fourteen or fifteen young men arrested last November in County Meath were detained in the Gárda Síochána Barracks at Navan for eight days in four small cells without blankets or any other clothing to keep them warm; whether he considers such treatment proper for tried or untried prisoners, and whether in the event of any further emergencies such as existed last November he will make better provision for persons in custody.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TREATMENT OF NAVAN PRISONERS.
It is not the case that any of these men were detained in the Gárda Síochána Barracks at Navan for eight days. Of the men arrested, seven were detained for three nights. The rest were detained for one night only and no prisoner was detained for more than three nights. During the period of their detention everything possible in the circumstances, was done for their comfort. It is true that there were only four cells, but the men all had their overcoats, and two blankets were given to the men in each cell each night. During the day they were allowed out in batches, and exercised themselves by sawing wood in the barrack-yard. They were also given every facility to warm themselves at the kitchen and day-room fires, and no complaint was received from any of them as to the treatment received when detained in the station. There was no avoidable delay in having the cases of these men, where necessary, brought before the courts and dealt with, and allowance must be made for the number of the men concerned, the limited accommodation at the station, and the difficulty of providing escorts for their removal to Mountjoy.