asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that Seán MacBride, who was arrested on the 24th August, the date of the County Dublin bye-elections, and who is now a prisoner in Mountjoy Jail, was not in Ireland on the date of the death of the late Minister for Justice; whether it is the intention of the Minister to order his release.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MOUNTJOY PRISONER'S RELEASE.
Seán MacBride was arrested on the 24th August and was a prisoner in Mountjoy Jail. I do not know why the Deputy reminds me that the 24th August was the date of the County Dublin bye-election. I do not see what relevance that fact has. I am now satisfied from the evidence before me that MacBride was not in Ireland at the time of the assassination of the late Minister for Justice, although I should, perhaps, remind the Deputy that the warrant of detention specified that there were grounds for suspecting the said Seán MacBride of conspiracy to murder and that his detention was necessary for the proper investigation of the said offence. MacBride was released on Monday evening, the 24th instant.
Is the Minister for Justice now satisfied that there were no good grounds for having him arrested?
Then why was he released?
He was released because the investigations had been completed.