asked the Minister for Defence whether the firearms which were seized by the Volunteer forces during the pre-Treaty struggle will be handed back to those from whom they were taken, or from whom they were received, and if this is not possible if the owners of such firearms will be compensated for their loss?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - COMMANDEERED FIREARMS.
In many cases it will not be possible to trace arms taken by Volunteers prior to the Truce, and in other cases to ascertain definitely the owners of any arms held in military custody at present. Where it is possible to do so, however, these arms will be returned to the persons from whom they were taken.
The general question as to whether claims for compensation in respect of loss of arms can be entertained has yet to get consideration.
Arising out of that answer, will the Minister state what steps will be necessary in order to prove that those arms were given up or were taken from them?
The circumstances in which persons lost arms, prior to the Truce, varied in so many cases that I am afraid no general statement could be made. For the present, I am afraid nothing but an ordinary statement of claim supported by any receipt that might have been obtained at the time is all that anybody wishing to make a claim can make. It may be possible that after the receipt of a certain number of claims like those that the form of application may be systematised, but I have my doubts.
The Minister is probably aware that receipts were scarcely ever given for those arms. Perhaps he would accept some other form of proof.