asked the Minister for Justice if he has received from Clare County Council a resolution asking for an inquiry into assaults alleged to have been committed by members of the Detective Division of the Gárda Síochána on Michael Cahill and John Hassett, junior, at Crossmore, Kilmurray McMahon, on February 15th, 1928; if he has received copies of affidavits made by Messrs. Cahill and Hassett, testifying to the alleged assaults; if he has caused any inquiry to be held into these allegations; and, if so, if he will state the names and ranks of the persons by whom such inquiry was conducted, the names of the witnesses examined, and whether the inquiry was held in public or in private; if he will state the nature of the report made to him as a result of such inquiry, and the disciplinary action, if any, taken against the officers by whom the assaults are alleged to have been committed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alleged Assault in Co. Clare.
I have received from the Clare County Council a resolution in the terms described in the Deputy's question, except that the date should be the 15th February, 1929. The copy resolution was accompanied by copies of affidavits purporting to have been made by Messrs. Cahill & Hassett. Information reached the police that on the night of the 15th February certain members of the local irregular organisation intended to hold what they called a courtmartial on some one of their colleagues. A police party went out to the meeting place to prevent this illegality, and Messrs. Cahill and Hassett, who are known to be members of the irregular organisation, were the only two members found present. The others who were to arrive either were late or had seen the police party and taken fright. Cahill and Hassett were questioned as to the purpose of their visit to the house in which they were found at Crossmore. I have obtained full reports on the matter, and I have read the documents deposed to by Messrs. Cahill and Hassett, and I have come to the conclusion that their allegations are designed to cover their own criminal conspiracies. I do not propose to take any further action in the matter.
Might I ask the Minister if it is going to be his consistent policy not to take any notice of charges made against the Civic Guards and the C.I.D. in cases like this?
It is not my consistent policy. My policy is to investigate charges, and if I see that there is what I consider to be a prima facie case made out, then I direct a police inquiry.
Why not have a public inquiry?
If these gentlemen wish a public inquiry, they have the public courts. They have waited for two months.
As this has been the consistent answer of the Minister for Justice in connection with all these matters, I would like to have this question raised on the adjournment.