asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that at a court of inquiry held in connection with the death of a soldier representatives acting on behalf of the deceased were refused admission; and if he will state the reasons for this decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inquiry into Death of Soldier.
Courts of inquiry are a part of internal Army administration and civilians are not permitted to attend unless their presence is necessary to enable the court to ascertain all the facts in relation to the matter under investigation.
The representatives mentioned by the Deputy did not come within that category and consequently were refused permission to be present at the proceedings of the court of inquiry in question.
May I ask the Minister if he is aware of the tragic situation which existed in connection with this boy? His mother, who was in Scotland, was unable to be present at the inquest. Is the Minister aware that, because of that, counsel attended at the court of inquiry and was refused permission to appear? The court adjourned and then met in private a week or ten days later. The family were seriously perturbed by the fact that no information was available. Would the Minister ensure that in future this archaic regulation, which was copied from the British Act, is removed so that hardship will not be imposed on people in such tragic circumstances?
The coroner's inquest was public. That is a purely internal matter. The Army inquire into matters that they want to discover for their own information.
Is the Minister not aware that this young soldier was tragically burned to death in the barracks——
I am, of course:
——and that his mother, who lives in Scotland, was not in a position to attend the inquest——
The Deputy is repeating his statement.
——and that no information was made available to his relatives with regard to the tragic circumstances of his death?
The normal procedure was followed. The inquest was held in public.
That is just about as thick an answer as you would get from a thick ignorant man.