andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Justice the date on which a circular concerning the reemployment of persons convicted by the Special Criminal Court was issued by his Department; and the date on which that Court was recently established.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Special Criminal Court Convictions.
40.
Two notifications have been sent by my Department to other Departments relating to convictions by the Special Criminal Court of offences scheduled under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. The dates were 9th January and 7th February last. The first notification covered all those who had been convicted up to then and the second one dealt with those convicted later.
The Special Criminal Court was established on 24th August, 1939, and has been in existence continuously since that date. However, it did not in fact sit since December, 1946, until the end of last year. On 22nd November last three vacancies that existed in the membership of five were filled and the first case that subsequently came before the Court was on 27th November.