asked the Minister for Justice if he will state what were the circumstances which occasioned the arrest, detention and questioning of David and John Carroll, Garrouse, Bruree, on the 10th December last; and why, particularly, these young men should be arrested, detained and questioned in the matter; and if he will state whether an apology for the action of the Gárda in arresting, detaining and questioning them has been made to these young men on the part of the Gárda or of the Minister; and if not, if the Minister will state why no such apology has been tendered.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bruree Arrests.
Dr. Ryan
The persons referred to in the Deputy's question were arrested and detained by the police on suspicion of having committed an offence mentioned in the Appendix to Article 2 A of the Constitution.
Will the Minister say what evidence he had against these men and what were the particular circumstances in this case that dictated that they should be arrested while attending the church at a funeral?
Is the use of the Deputy's own weapon beginning to make itself felt?
Dr. Ryan
The police arrested them on suspicion of having committed an offence mentioned in the Appendix to Article 2A of the Constitution.
What was the offence?
Dr. Ryan
I am sure the Deputy heard what I said. With regard to Deputy Mulcahy's supplementary question, I am informed that these particular men were what you might call technically arrested. They were let off after two or three minutes.
Does the Minister say that it is a technical arrest when the police arrest two people who are the chief mourners at a church, take them to the barracks, hold them for twenty minutes there and let them go when the funeral has gone on condition that they surrender themselves at Limerick that night, and, having surrendered themselves at Limerick that night at their own expense and in their own time, they were kept for 24 hours there and then released?
Dr. Ryan
That is a gross exaggeration.
Will the Minister say what is an exaggeration?
What is the offence with which these men were charged?
Dr. Ryan
The Deputy should read the Appendix to Article 2A of the Constitution.
That contains many offences With which particular one were these men charged?
Dr. Ryan
The Deputy made the mistake of putting too many in it.