I have a copy of the evening paper here, and there is a sensational report in it about Mountjoy Prison. I wonder would the President be able to give us any particulars with regard to the shooting?
MOUNTJOY PRISON SHOOTING.
Mr. JOHN ROONEY
Mr. GOREY
And how it occurred.
I got a very short report as the Dáil was sitting this evening from the Commander-in-Chief:—
"At 8.45 this morning (Tuesday) prisoners in Mountjoy, from their cells, attacked the Guards in the Circle, with firearms, killing two (Gaffney and Keaveney), and wounding three. In return fire one prisoner was killed (Peadar Breslin) and two wounded.
"In a search land mines were found in the cells. A coup with outside cooperation was evidently intended."
That is all the information I have about the case.
Mr. GOREY
How could these get in there—land mines, revolvers and ammunition—without the knowledge of the people in charge? How could such a thing occur?
I cannot say. The Military will have an enquiry, of course, to ascertain how it has occurred, and to take precautions.
Mr. GOREY
It is extraordinary.
I am not in a position to say more than is contained in the report.
Mr. GOREY
To my mind it shows utter laxity. I notice laxity down the country everywhere.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
With regard to the question when you will take the Fourth Stage of the Bill, assuming we get through the present stage this week, there would probably have to be a week's interval before we would take the next stage.
Mr. MILROY
Will we have a week's adjournment?
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
A week's interval would mean that if we finished on Friday we could not take the Fourth Reading until the following Tuesday week, the 23rd.
I had no idea it would take that length of time.
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
You either start the Fourth Reading on Friday or on the following Tuesday. Deputies will have to have the Report Stage in their hands and have some time to put in amendments, and these amendments must be circulated.
Mr. DARRELL FIGGIS
I think there might possibly be some answer to the question Deputy Milroy put. Will that mean that during that interval of a week, there will be other business or that the Dáil will adjourn?
I would propose that the Dáil adjourn for a week in this case.
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
To the 23rd?
Yes.
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
The Orders of the day having been concluded, there is another question, the Report of the Sub-Committee, of which Deputy Fitzgibbon was convener.
Mr. G. FITZGIBBON
I already made a statement while your Deputy was in the Chair. The report of the Committee over which I had the honour to preside will be handed to the Officer of the Dáil this evening.
AN CEANN COMHAIRLE
In that case we could endeavour to have it printed and have it in the hands of the Deputies to-morrow, and have it discussed on Thursday, if the other business concludes before that.
Motion: "That the Dáil do now adjourn," put and carried.
The Dáil adjourned at 6.30.