asked the Minister for Justice if he has received a copy of a statement by Mr. Thomas J. Breen, Coolmeen, County Clare, giving particulars of an alleged assault on him by a member of the detective branch of the Gárda Síochána on November 19th, 1929; if he has caused an inquiry to be made into the allegations made therein; and, if so, if he will state by whom such inquiry was conducted, the names of the witnesses examined, the result of the inquiry, and the disciplinary action, if any, taken against the officer concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Alleged Assault in Clare by Detective Officer.
On the 29th ultimo I received from the Deputy's secretary a letter enclosing a copy of a statement of the kind mentioned in the question. I do not propose to take any further action in the matter.
Why does not the Minister intend to take further action in the matter?
I explained my reasons fully in answer to the last question: because I do not believe the allegations. This man is perpetually making allegations.
Is the Minister aware that Mr. Breen was also assaulted by the Civic Guards on 12th September?
I am quite aware of the fact that Mr. Breen likes getting a cheap advertisement in this House by declaring that he was assaulted by the Guards, and he gets a good deal of cheap advertisement from Deputies opposite.
Does the Minister think it is a cheap advertisement when a man is beaten with revolvers? Does the Minister think that that sort of thing should go on without the public being informed about it?
The Deputy is assuming that this is going on, which is not a fact.
I would like to ask the Minister again if he has received a sworn statement to the effect that this is going on, and if it is not true, why does he not proceed against the man for perjury?
Because, as I have explained to the House already, proceedings for perjury in a case like this would not lie. You can only proceed for perjury when there has been perjury in judicial proceedings. I think I made that very clear in a statement I made to the House before.
Are we to understand from the Minister that he will not investigate any allegations concerning assaults committed by the Civic Guards?
You are not.
Will the Minister say in what way the case of Mr. Breen differs from any other case? Is it because Mr. Breen is not a supporter of the Government?
No, because I do not believe Mr. Breen's allegations. I believe what is lying behind the whole thing is a desire for publicity. Mr. Breen objects to being interrogated by the Guards——
Naturally.
—or to be stopped by the Guards, or to be searched by the Guards for firearms, and he then brings these charges of violence against the Guards.
Does the Minister for Justice know Mr. Breen personally?
Are we, therefore, to understand that the Minister is judging the case by the information which he has received from the people who are alleged to have carried out the assault?
I am judging the case on the evidence before me in this and in other cases.