I desire to draw the attention of the Dáil to the circumstances surrounding the death of Patrick Mulrenan, of Lisacul, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. I raise the question on the motion for the Adjournment because of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply to a question of mine by the Minister for Defence. In reply to a question of mine on this day week the Minister said that a coroner's inquest was held to investigate the circumstances of this man's death. The inquest appears to have been adjourned on three occasions and no definite findings were arrived at. Perhaps the Minister in his reply now will tell us if it is usual for a coroner's inquest to meet and adjourn after three sittings and arrive at no definite findings. I challenge the Minister to set up an impartial inquiry to inquire into the circumstances of Patrick Mulrenan's death. He should certainly agree to do so unless he is afraid of the findings of such Committee of Inquiry. The Minister admitted on this day week and also to-day that this young man died as the result of a wound received from a shot fired by an officer of the National Army. That much is admitted. The Minister further said:—"I understand that there was a state of active mutiny and that this man and others were warned that unless they behaved themselves they would be shot." I expect that he will advance that as a reason why Colonel Lawler shot Patrick Mulrenan in Athlone on the Pump Square on 6th October, 1922. Everybody in this House may not be conversant with the facts of this young man's death. This young man, practically the main support of his widowed mother, was taken prisoner and conveyed to Custume Barracks, Athlone. On 6th October two senior officers in the National Army in the Athlone Command entered the prisoners' compound. One fired a revolver shot and was rebuked by his senior officer with the remark: "You are a damned bad shot, Tony." Tony used an expression which I would not like to repeat in this House and expressed his determination to do better next time. He fired again. Mulrenan fell wounded and died some days later at the Curragh.
These are the facts. I expect the Minister will tell us he was shot after being warned because there was a mutiny. There was no mutiny. I hold in my hand a statement sworn before Peace Commissioners by 94 prisoners who were in Athlone at the time declaring that there was no mutiny, and that they were engaged in their ordinary occupations of making rings and bags. Patrick Mulrenan was seated on a dustbin reading a book. Was that the mutiny for which he was shot and fell wounded? The Minister has decided to tell the House that there was a mutiny. If the Minister can prove there was a mutiny let him hold any inquiry he wishes, and I will prove by hundreds of witnesses on oath beyond aye or nay that there was no mutiny. The coroner's inquest adjourned for the third time without finding a verdict. If there was any prospect of the coroner's inquest finding a verdict favourable to the Minister and to his Department would he not be glad to give them the opportunity of adjourning a fourth or fifth time if necessary to arrive at their verdict? Instead, there was an indefinite adjournment without finding any verdict. I say deliberately the reason for the adjournment indefinitely was that the verdict would be unfavourable to the Minister for Defence and his Party.
As to the question of compensation, I always understood that in any civilised State, and I hope we are still civilised, and I would be sorry to think otherwise, those who take prisoners are responsible for their safe custody. In this case you have Patrick Mulrenan held a prisoner by the National Army, standing helpless behind barbed wire, shot down like a dog. The State have the audacity to deny they have any responsibility for his death. The State are morally and legally responsible for the death of Mulrenan. One of their servants shot him, and he was not alone one of their servants but the second officer in command at Athlone, and in his company at the actual moment of the shooting was the senior officer of the Athlone Command. Patrick Mulrenan was practically the main support of his widowed mother. She lost another son in the fight as well. This woman is now looking for outdoor relief. She is trying to exist on a mere pittance amounting to a few shillings per week. The State have legal and moral responsibility, as I have said, for the death of Patrick Mulrenan, and also a moral and legal responsibility for seeing that his widowed mother is not allowed to remain in want. I trust the Minister will give some hope that he will reconsider his decision about this poor old woman.
I hope he will give some kind of an assurance that if an inquiry is not instituted into the death of Patrick Mulrenan that he will at least consider those left behind to mourn his loss, and who were dependent on him. There is an old saying that you may fool all the people some of the time, you may fool some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. The Minister for Defence cannot even fool his own supporters on this. Let him go to Westmeath, Roscommon, Sligo, or elsewhere, and he will be told the true circumstances surrounding the death of Patrick Mulrenan. Even his own supporters, prominent members of Cumann na nGaedheal, can tell him the full circumstances. Let the Minister advance some plea for the shooting of Mulrenan other than the plea of mutiny, for there was no mutiny, as can be proved if an inquiry is held.