asked the Minister for Defence whether he received from Richard J. Nagle, 54 Thomas Davis Street, Blackpool, Cork, an application for a pension under the Military Service Pension Act, 1934; whether he will state if the referee reported that Mr. Nagle was not a person to whom the Act applies; and, if so, whether he is aware that Mr. Nagle, who formerly resided at Mourne Abbey, was an active member of the I.R.A., took part in the attack on Mallow Barracks, and in the Mourne Abbey ambush where two men were killed, one died of wounds, and two executed; and, further, whether he will state if, before rejecting Mr. Nagle's claim for a pension, the referee sought and obtained information concerning the applicant from his company captain in the I.R.A.; and, if not, whether he is now prepared to re-open the application with a view to securing all the information available concerning the activities of this man from the officers in a position to furnish it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Pension.
An application under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, was received from Mr. Richard Nagle, 54 Thomas Davis Street, Blackpool, Cork, formerly of Mourne Abbey. It was referred to the referee who reported to me that on the evidence before him Mr. Nagle was not a person to whom the Act is applicable, and this decision was communicated to Mr. Nagle on the 13th January, 1942.
I am not aware of the nature of the services rendered by Mr. Nagle, in the I.R.A., but I understand that before reporting to me the referee fully considered evidence obtained from Mr. Nagle, the Brigade Committee, and from former officers nominated by the Brigade Committee to give evidence. Mr. Nagle's former Company Captain was not nominated.
If additional evidence not hitherto available is furnished I will be prepared to consider the question of referring the case back to the referee for review.