asked the Minister for External Affairs if he proposes to publish the correspondence between the Governments of Éire and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the question of the reprieve of (1) Barnes and (2) McCormick, who were recently executed in England; and if he will state the grounds of the appeal for the remission of the death penalty in their cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Birmingham Executions.
I do not propose to publish the correspondence, and I do not think that any good purpose can now be served by stating the grounds on which the appeal for the remission of the death penalty was made. It is sufficient for me to say that the Government did everything that was possible to secure the reprieve.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state whether any representations were made by him to the British Government to hand over the bodies of James McCormick and Peter Barnes to their relatives for interment in Ireland, and, if so, with what result.
I have not made the representations suggested by the Deputy. I do not think that the request would be granted and I see no point in courting a refusal.
In view of the expressed demand by the relatives and others in this country that the bodies should be handed over for interment in Ireland, will the Taoiseach at this stage make representations to the British Government insisting on the right of the relatives to obtain the bodies for interment in Ireland, even though that request may be refused by the British Government?
I cannot insist, as the Deputy well knows, on the request being granted, and my own view is that there is no use in making the request.
Surely if the Taoiseach thinks it is morally right for the relatives to have the bodies, it is right for him to make representations, even though these representations may be rejected, to the British Government?
I can only say that I have nothing to add to what I have already said on the matter.