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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Apr 1946

Vol. 100 No. 14

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gárda and Ex-Members of National Forces.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether he is aware that representatives of the Gárda Síochána recently called at the homes of a large number of persons in Clonmel, lately discharged from the Army, asked them to attend at the local Gárda station, and there informed them that discharged members of the National Forces were generally thought to be responsible for a number of robberies which have occurred in Clonmel, and requested of them to allow their finger-prints to be taken by the Gárdaí; if he will state (a) how many persons were so called on; (b) how many persons attended at the Gárda station; and (c) how many persons had their finger-prints taken; if he will state on what authority and for what reason this action was taken; and whether it is proposed to offer any explanation or apology to the persons who have been so treated, and to surrender to them the documents upon which their finger-prints have been taken.

Mr. Boland

I may perhaps begin by saying that as soon as the Commissioner became aware of the procedure adopted in this case, the officer responsible was informed that the procedure was not approved of and should not be repeated, and that the papers on which the finger-prints had been taken should be returned to the persons concerned.

I desire to express my regret and the Commissioner's regret that this incident should have occurred.

In fairness to everybody concerned I should add that the officer states that the Gárdaí never formed or expressed the opinion that ex-members of the Army were responsible for the robberies under investigation and that they had, in fact, no grounds to justify such a suspicion. They first interrogated a very large number of local people, and then came to the conclusion—I think reasonably enough—that the culprits were probably persons who had only recently taken up residence in, or returned to, the neighbourhood. The ex-Army men were approached as new arrivals in the district, not as ex-Army men. No question of legal powers arose: the men were asked if they were willing to co-operate and they agreed to do so.

The answers to the parts of the question which are marked (a), (b) and (c) are: (a) 40; (b) and (c) 47.

Am I to understand that after 40 people had been called upon, seven additional persons, reacting in the spirit of the times, came and stood in with the other 40 and said: "We will have our finger-prints taken?" It shows a very excellent spirit.

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