asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that there are certain prisoners in Maryborough Prison whose cases arise either out of the Civil War or apart from strictly legal considerations have a political aspect, and whether, in view of the altered political circumstances, he will be prepared to set up machinery for the review of these cases.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MARYBOROUGH PRISON POLITICAL PRISONERS.
In November, 1924, at the direction of the Executive Council, a general review was made of pending prosecutions and of sentences already passed in respect of offences committed between the 6th December, 1921, and 12th May, 1923. As a result of that review a nolle prosequi was entered in a great number of cases returned for trial, and preliminary proceedings were abandoned in numerous other cases. Twenty persons who had been sentenced to various terms ranging from 12 months to 10 years were released from prison on various dates in the years 1924 and 1925. At the time there were 900 persons in prison. The depositions, prison records and police reports were examined in every case with a view to seeing whether any of them came within the spirit of the Resolution of the Executive Council adopted in November, 1924, and commonly referred to as the Amnesty Resolution. It will be appreciated that the task undertaken was one of some difficulty, and it was sometimes almost impossible to say whether the persons involved acted in a really criminal spirit or from mistaken political motives.
I am not prepared at present to admit that any genuine cases were overlooked, or that a generous view was not taken, but if the Deputy will have sent to me the names of persons still in prison whose cases, in his opinion, deserve further consideration, and his reasons, I will look into the matter and communicate with him.
Is the Minister aware that subsequent to November, 1924, clemency was shown and sentences reduced in the case of ex-Free State Army officers and members of the National Army who were convicted of crimes, and would he, in these circumstances, consider reviewing the sentences of the Republican prisoners who have been convicted of political offences?
Perhaps the Deputy is not aware of the fact that a great number of Republican prisoners were released or had their sentences commuted.
That is not an answer to my question.
I have already answered the other part of your question, and I have already told Deputy Kerlin that if he communicates with me I will proceed as I have set out in my answer to him.
Arising out of the Minister's reply would he be prepared to grant special facilities to persons outside the Prison Board to visit the prisoners concerned in Maryborough to elicit information to facilitate a review of their cases?
No. If they wish to say anything themselves they are always free to send it up to the Department.
Would the Minister not be prepared to consider, say, a visit by a number of Deputies selected from this House to Maryborough Prison?
There was a supplementary question asked regarding certain facts with a view to eliciting information on them, and the Minister asks the House not to rely upon his knowledge of the circumstances but upon his imagination.
I have not asked the House at any time to rely upon my imagination.
There was a question and your reply was: I imagine so.