asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he is aware that Peter Cronin and James Baker, of Garouse, Bruree, and Edmond O'Rourke, of Ballyfookeen, and James and William O'Brien, of Stylepark, Bruree, were arrested on Monday, 10th December last, brought to William Street Barracks, Limerick, and detained there until the evening of the following day, and if he will state what was the reason for the arrest and detention of these young men, what was the statutory authority for their arrest and detention, whether any charge was made against them, and whether it is proposed to bring any charge against them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arrest of County Limerick Men.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he is aware that on the 10th December last while in attendance at the church at Charleville at the funeral of a near relative, David and John Carroll, Garrouse, Bruree, were removed from the funeral, arrested and taken to Charleville Barracks, detained until after the funeral had left, then released on condition that they surrendered themselves to the police at Limerick at 9 o'clock that night; that they were detained in Limerick Barracks for 24 hours; and if he will state the reason for the arrest and detention of these young men, the statutory authority under which the arrest and detention took place; whether any charge was made against them; whether it is proposed to make any charge against them; and if he will state what were the circumstances which dictated the intrusion of the police on a funeral at a church and the arrest of persons attending the funeral.
I propose to take Questions 7 and 8 together. The persons referred to in these questions were apprehended and detained by virtue of the powers conferred upon the police by Part 3 of Article 2A of the Constitution. No charge has been brought against them but I am unable to give the Deputy any assurance in regard to the future. I am informed that it is a fact that the persons referred to in Question 8 were apprehended while attending a funeral.
Will the Minister say whether we have come to this in the country: that a funeral can be invaded in the church premises; the chief mourners removed from the funeral and brought to the barracks, before the rest of the community, and held up there; an attempt made to delay the funeral; and then, on a guarantee being given that they will return to the police, that people will be released.
Dr. Ryan
I think that under the Deputy's administration they were not taken to the police barracks. They were shot at funerals.
Will the Minister say what were the circumstances in this case that demanded that the police should invade a funeral and arrest persons of known integrity and peaceful habits?