asked the Minister for Justice whether the person, or persons, responsible for breaking and entering the Custom House, during the period while the Court of Inquiry into Dr. MacCarvill's allegations against Dr. Ward was in being, have been identified; if so, who were they; and whether it is intended to prosecute them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Entering of Custom House.
The persons referred to have not so far been identified. While the police have suspicions as to who they are, sufficient evidence to support a prosecution has not been obtained.
Does the Minister for Justice inform the House that the Custom House can be broken into despite the presence of watchmen and Gardaí Síochána, the private files of the Government tampered with and that, after six months, the Garda Síochána are unable to bring home responsibility for these acts to anybody? If that is so, will the Minister require the Commissioner to have very careful investigation made into the criminal detection branch of the Garda Síochána? Does the Minister think it right that it should be possible to have the Custom House broken into, files tampered with and nobody brought to justice?
Mr. Boland
I do not. It is suspected that some youths got in through a window which was inadvertently left open. There is suspicion regarding some young people who were knocking around and who stole some fountain pens. It is suspected that they did it but we cannot prove it and, consequently, cannot prosecute. I agree that it should not happen but these things will happen. Somebody left a lavatory window open and these children got in.
Was any other property taken on that occasion? Has the story verisimilitude that, if you want to steal fountain pens, you should repair to the Custom House.
Mr. Boland
That is an unfair innuendo.
What is the innuendo?
Mr. Boland
That this was done in connection with the Ward inquiry.
There is no innuendo——
Mr. Boland
Why is it stated in the question?
Any implication arising could be categorically rebutted by the prosecution of the guilty persons. Does the Minister believe that the country will believe that youths in pursuit of fountain pens will seek to satisfy their desire by breaking into the Custom House? Does the Minister think that we are all "daft"?
Mr. Boland
It was not for fountain pens they went in, but for anything on which they could lay hands. It happened that the only things which suited them were fountain pens.
The Minister and I were born in this city. If we were to go breaking into houses, is it to the Custom House we would go?
Mr. Boland
These young fellows thought that they would get something more valuable than they actually got.
Were private files tampered with there? Is it a fact that the Ward and MacCarvill inquiry files were tampered with?
Mr. Boland
I have no information about the files.
Will you please reply "yes" or "no"?
Mr. Boland
The Deputy does not rule the House.
Let us have a straight answer.
In the interests of accuracy, would the Minister endeavour to clear up the matter? Were any files, in fact, tampered with?
Mr. Boland
None whatever.
That clears up the matter.
Mr. Boland
The boys searched for whatever they could lay hands upon and they took six or seven fountain pens belonging to the staff.
Was it not stated at the time that the papers were scattered about the floor?
Question 11.