asked the Minister for Justice whether, in view of the fact that a number of untried prisoners are on hunger strike for a long period, and in a critical condition, he will order their immediate release.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Internees on Hunger Strike.
I am aware that the following men, Seán Mac Cumhaill, a native of County Donegal; John G. O'Doherty, a native of Northern Ireland, and Terence McLoughlin, of County Roscommon, who are detained at No. 1 Internment Camp, Curragh Camp, under Emergency Powers (No. 20) Order, 1940. have been on hunger strike since 24th May, 1943. On the 23rd May, these three men, and five others who have since gone off hunger strike, addressed a joint letter to the Government stating that they had decided to hunger strike for unconditional release. The detention of these men is considered necessary in the interests of the public safety. The Government cannot allow any persons whose actions when at liberty are a menace to the public safety to regain their liberty by hunger striking.
Apart from the manifest injustice of detaining prisoners without charge or trial, does the Minister not realise that a national tragedy will be enacted if any of these men die and, in the interest of internal peace and quietude in this country which must be the paramount consideration for this Assembly, will the Minister take steps to release these three men and thereby avert what will be a national tragedy if any of these men lose their lives in the course of their protest against their incarceration without charge or trial?
Mr. Boland
I am not prepared to admit that there is any manifest injustice in having these men interned without trial. I would point out to the Deputy that for three years people have been interned without trial and no voice was raised here. If that was considered to be a manifest injustice, surely we would have heard about it before now. Their internment was rendered necessary in the public interest and for the public safety. If they are prepared to behave as ordinary citizens and satisfy me that they are prepared to do so, then they will be released, but not on any other conditions.
If it was unjust to detain men without charge or trial up to 1932 and if it was justifiable to release them when the Fianna Fáil Government came into office in 1932, surely there are equally strong reasons for releasing these men to-day, particularly as some of them are on the point of death and their death may cause a situation in this country which every sensible citizen wants to avoid?
Mr. Boland
When did Deputy Norton come to the conclusion that it was unjust to detain these people, seeing that they are at least three years detained, and he never raised the matter here before, at least not to my knowledge?
If the Minister wants a tussle on that matter he will get it on the Vote on Account.
Mr. Boland
I am prepared for any tussle on it.
The matter may not be raised on the Vote on Account.
The Taoiseach's Government is involved in this. These people are detained under an Emergency Powers Order made by the Government——
Which would be relevant on the Emergency Powers Bill.
The Minister will recollect occasions when men were on hunger strike or sentenced to death when I pleaded with him to avoid the sufferings entailed in these cases. For the same reason, I am now pleading with him to release these men—namely, that no good national purpose will be served if any of them lose their lives.
Mr. Boland
We can have a debate on that later.
You should not misrepresent my attitude.
Mr. Boland
I never remember Deputy Norton raising any question on this matter up to this—at least not in the House. He has done it privately and got satisfaction in connection with every case he raised. But never on any occasion in the House did he or any other member of the Dáil raise it. The new Dáil may be different.
Did I not frequently interview you in connection with internees, and when men had been sentenced to death?
Mr. Boland
Privately; and always got satisfaction.