asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that a telegram handed in at London at 8 p.m. on Friday, 6th May, did not reach the person in Dublin to whom it was addressed until the following day; and if he will state the normal time at which delivery should have been made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Delivery of London Telegram.
6.
In the absence of more details, I am unable to trace the telegram in question.
The normal hours of telegraph delivery by messenger in Dublin are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. After the latter hour only telegrams of the kind known as "life and death" messages are so delivered, and if the telegram referred to was not of that kind, it would have been held over for delivery until the following morning.
The telegram was a "life and death" telegram. A girl was knocked down by a car and was on the point of death when her father sent for his son in London. The son sent the telegram when he was on the way home but he himself was in Dublin next morning in time to be handed the telegram at his father's doorstep. In fact I had the telegram in my hand last night.
I saw the telegram but I am unable to dispute it because I have not got the details in the office.
I gave the telegram to the Minister. I have it in my pocket somewhere. The man who sent it took it in when he arrived in Dublin.