IRELAND

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 7 November 1919, Page 5

IRELAND

ENQUIRY INTO FATHER O'DONNELL'S CASE.

£}* CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, Nov. 4.

The Australian military authorities Jhave commenced a preliminary enquiry in the O'Donnell case in order to decide whether there is a case for a. courtmartial. The latter will be held forthwith if the authorities consider,the evidence justifies, them in proceeding; otherwise O'Donnell will be immediately released". The authorities would not countenance O'Donnell's repatriation before the matter was fully investigated, on the grounds that a serious charge must be. substantiated or dismissed. ;

The Anslralian Press Association understands that the prosecution's case is chiefly biased on the testimony of three witnesses, one of whom, an officer, apparently has strong evidence. The principal witness has already arrivxl and the others are travelling from Ireland. O'Donnell is to-day vndergoixig an examination by his legal adviser, whose report will be submitted to the authorities. It is likely that O'Donnell will decline to speak at the preliminary enquiry, bat will reserve his defence for the court-martial.

Later

The enquiiy w_s devoted to the examination of the principal witness. Second-Lieutenant Chambers, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, attached to a/ depot at Cork. O'Donnell crossexamined the witness for three hours in a lively manner.

Chambers literally repeated the conversation cabled on the Oct. 30, which he said he took down in shorthand during dinner while O'Donnell was talking (>' Donnell accused witness of lying. .

The statementy of two further witnesses from Cork are expected tomorrow, when the prelimiary ivestisation ends.