asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether there is any foundation for the statement that while Mrs. Despard was being removed to hospital from her residence, Roebuck House, Dundrum, a party of men from the Criminal Investigation Department were carrying out a raid on the premises.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - C.I.D. VISIT TO ROEBUCK HOUSE.
Roebuck House, Dundrum, which is a spacious building consisting of over twenty rooms and occupied by a considerable number of people, was searched by a party of police, under a warrant, at 10.30 a.m. on the 25th instant. The officer in charge of the party approached Mrs. Gonne Mac Bride and told her he was about to search the house. Mrs. MacBride informed the officer that Mrs. Despard had met with an accident and was about to be taken to hospital. The ambulance did in fact arrive and Mrs. Despard was removed while the party of police were in the house. I may add that Mrs. Despard did not see any of the party of police nor was she spoken to by any of them. She could not in fact have known that a search was taking place unless she was informed by some of the many occupants of the house.
Was it merely a coincidence then that the party of C.I.D. men did not arrive at the house until the ambulance was there? My information is that they arrived after the ambulance was drawn up at the door?
The officers who carried out the raid were perfectly in ignorance of the fact that Mrs. Despard had met with any accident until they were informed of the fact by Mrs. MacBride.
But were the heads of the Department aware of it? That is the point. It does not matter about the actual raiding party.
No, they were not.