I wish to ask the Minister for Justice the following question, of which I have given him private notice: If he will state why Peadar O'Domhnall, of 39 Marlboro' Road. Dublin, was arrested yesterday and released without any charge being preferred against him; if he will state the number of times during the last month Peadar O'Domhnall has been arrested and released in the same manner, and what was the duration of his detention on each occasion and, also, if he will state by whom instructions were issued for these arrests and the nature of the instructions.
PRIVATE NOTICE QUESTIONS. - DUBLIN MAN'S ARREST AND RELEASE.
As Mr. O'Donnell is believed to be in close association with certain criminal organisations, he has frequently been arrested by the Gárda on suspicion of being in possession of documents relating to such organisations. Owing to the short notice I have received of this question I have not been able to obtain a complete report in this matter, but I have learned that O'Donnell was arrested on yesterday and detained for some time. I have no information as to the number of occasions on which he has been so arrested and detained. I do not propose to disclose the instructions which have been issued to the Gárda in any case of this nature.
Mr. BOLAND
I would like to ask the Minister if the position is this: that Habeas Corpus has been suspended in the case of one man, and that a person can be arrested fourteen times in a month and detained for four hours each time. This man asked the police what he was charged with, but he got no answer. He was told to wait until Superintendent Ennis came. Superintendent Ennis can never be found for about four hours. I suggest that this is a new system in the persecution of citizens. You have the other system obtaining whereby you can keep a man in jail for about 12 months without trial, but I think this is even worse. O'Donnell has been arrested twelve times since the 6th June last. On some occasions he has been kept in for four hours, and he could never get any information as to why he was arrested. He was searched on almost every occasion, and if there had been any incriminating documents found upon him I presume he would have been charged. The Minister said that he was suspected of belonging to certain criminal organisations, or did the Minister say that he belonged to them or was suspected of belonging to them?
The words actually used were: "As Mr, O'Donnell is believed to be in close association with certain criminal organisations——"
Mr. BOLAND
I have a big statement to make on this case, and if I get time I can make it now. I want to give the Minister time. With your permission, I will raise the question on the adjournment if I cannot do it now, but I would like if the Minister is not prepared——
I am as well prepared now as I will be at any other time.
Mr. BOLAND
I suppose you are, but I think you cannot stand over this sort of thing.
Is it a crime to be a suspect?
The question will arise on the motion for the adjournment.
Why do you not put a guard under the table and conceal him with the table-cloth?