Arising out of the speech made by Deputy Dillon on the Army Vote last week, I would like to make a statement to the House if I have the permission of the Chair.
Prisoner's Escape—Statement by a Minister.
Permission given.
Mr. Boland
I heard the Deputy had made certain remarks about the escape of a prisoner, Hans Marschner. I was not quite sure of what he said and therefore I waited until the Official Report became available this morning to deal with the matter. In the course of his speech Deputy Dillon referred to the escape and recapture of a German internee, Marschner, and suggested that there had been some laxity in the pursuit and recapture of this man. He said that within four days after Marschner's escape, Marschner was in a nursing home in Dublin that the proprietress of the home rang up the police and asked them to come round and collect him, and that the police reply was that they would not come. (Column 2287: July 2.) The facts are that four days after Marschner's escape, the Gárdaí did receive a report that a man who might possibly be Marschner had been receiving treatment at a city hospital. The Gárdaí investigated the matter at once and satisfied themselves that the man was not Marschner: in fact, they found out who he actually was he turned out to be a man well known to them, who had been several times convicted of offences involving fraud. On a subsequent occasion, a communication was received from a nursing home about a patient there and on this being investigated, it was found that the same man was involved. He is at present serving a sentence for obtaining board and lodgings by false pretences.
I wish to say, emphatically, that there is no ground whatever for the suggestion that there was any laxity in any official quarter in the matter of Marschner's recapture. The Gárdaí were aware that the Government were most anxious that this man should be recaptured and they did everything in their power towards that end.
Am I entitled to ask the Minister a question?
No discussion is allowed in such cases.
No discussion at all?
No discussion.
Mr. Boland
I should like to say that the Deputy could have found out all about that if he had come to me and asked me beforehand, as he has done on numerous previous occasions.
The Minister has had his say now, but there is to be no discussion on it?
I suggest that the Deputy had his innings on the Estimate.
I make no complaint. My rights are fully protected by you, Sir.