IRELAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 19

IRELAND

ART O'BRIEN'S APPEAL. LONDON, May 14. TIIO House of Lords heard argument in the Art O'Brien appeal. Their Lordships decided that they had no jurisdiction to hear the appeal, which therefore will take its course before the Appeal Court on Wednesday, when Mr Bridgeman will produce O’Brien, who is now in Loudon. FAR REACHES G EFFECTS. LONDON, May 14. In the House of Commons Mr Ramsay MacDonald, referring to the O Brien case, asked what action the Government proposed with reference to the depxntees as a body, and in the matter of introducing an Indemnity Bill for the Ministers who had made mistakes. Mr Stanley Baldwin replied that the Government was considering its course o-i action, and an announcement- would be made on Tuesday. The Daily Express says that the Government intends to ask Parliament to sit on Saturday in order to pass the Indemnity Bill before the recess. In the lobbies to-night Mr Bridgeman’s resignation was forecasted, as he must accept the responsibility, though he acted on the best advice. It is understood that the Government favours the return and release of all the deportees unless a criminal charge can t>e brought against them. Mav 15. It is understood that Mr Bridgeman formally tendered his resignation of the Home Secretaryship, but it was not accepted. RETURN (JF DEPORTEES. LONDON, May 15. Mr W. C. Bridgeman (Secretary if State for Home Affairs) in the House of Commons, announced that, in view of the decision of the House of Lords in the O’Brien case, it was clear that it was the Government’s duty to request the Irish Free State to return the internees to this country, and this request was being made to-day. The Government was also considering the question of taking criminal action against certain of the internees. Subject to such proceedings the Government had decided to release the internees on their return to this country. Regarding the question of compensation to internees, Mr Baldwin stated that an Indemnity Bill would be introduced to-day. The House would re assemble on Tuesday, when it was hoped to pass the measure through all its stages forthwith. This statement was received with ironical labour cheers. May 16. Tlie Dublin correspondent of the Australian Press Association states that lit) women deportees will leave Kingstown for Holyhead on a British destroyer this morning EIGHT IN WICKLOW. LONDON, Mav 15. Free State troops operating in the hills in County Wicklow surrounded a party of rebels in a house. A light ensued, anil Blanket, a rebel leader, was killed. Twelve others surrended. “AN EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.” LONDON, May 16. O'Brien was formally discharged on leaving the Appeal Court, but detectives arrested him and conveyed him to Bow street, charging him with seditious conspiracy. When the Appeal Court ordered O'Brien’s release Mr Hastings, K.C., obtained costs. A great crowd outside demonstrated in O'Brien’s favour.

When O’Brien appeared at Bow street the prosecution stated that the defendant was charged with seditious conspiracy by inciting and assisting to create a state of disorder in Ireland, and to use force against the Irish Government. When the warrant was read 0 Brien said: “This is an extraordinary warrant. Can I have a copy? Has my solicitor been sent for?” When his solicitor arrived the latter said that his client had only just returned from Ireland. He proposed to ask for bail. The court remanded defendant for a week, but refused ball. SERIOUS EVIDENCE OF SEDITION. LONDON, May 17. O’Brien had six minutes of freedom. When he was discharged he lassed his sister and shook hands with the governor of Brixton Gaol. O'Brien told a pressmail that he wanted to go into the country to see his mother and to have a long rest. Meanwhile the police shouldered a way through the crowd for O Brien and his sister. He received congratulations from friends, and some of the women tried to kiss him. Another seized his hand and pressed it to her lips. Finally, O’Brien and his sister reached a motor-car. As they did so a signal was given to a number of plain-clothes detectives, who ran towards the car. As it began to move a detective jumped on beard, opened the car door, and disappeared inside. Two others called on the driver to stop. The driver, taken by surprise, was unable to make up his mind what to do. Meanwhile, inside O’Brien indignantly remonstrated with the detective, and his sister sat back dazed. The driver was persuaded to go to Bow street, where the iron gate again closed on O'Brien. In the court, counsel for the Crown said that most serious evidence would be brought against O’Brien. It had been discovered in documents in O'Brien’s possession when he was arrested for deportation. Counsel added that it was highly probable that to-day's proceedings would have been taken before if O'Brien had not been deported. A High Court judge, sitting in Chambers to-day, refused O’Brien’s application for bail. O’Brien intends to appeal to the Divisional Court. CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. LONDON, May 17. The Home Secretary (Mr W. C. Bridgeman) stated in the House of Commons today that proceedings were being taken against him by O’Brien and 0 Kara, the former for damages, for false imprisonment, and for costs, and the latter for illegal arrest, false imprisonment, and treble costs. THE INDEMNITY BILL. LONDON, May 17. Mr Baldwin, in the House of Commons, introduced the Restoration of Order in Ireland Indemnity Bill, 1923, which stipulated that no action other than legal proceedings, whether civil or criminal, shall be instigated in any court of law against any person in respect to the issue of any order under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act, 1920, before the passage of the Indemnity Act, and that any such proceedings, either before or after the passage of the Act, shall be discharged and made void. Two amendments were submitted, the first bv Mr Wedgewood lie nig who will move its rejection, and the second by Mr ,1. H. Foot-Simpson, refusing assent to the Bill unless adequate compensation is given to the deportees. Mr Ramsay MacDonald will move the rejection of the Bill when the second reading is taken. It is understood that the Government will introduce a Bill later giving the Home Secretary power to detain suspected persons without bringing them to trial on a definite charge. This provision was omitted from the Indemnity Bill in order to get the latter passed without delay. RETURN OF DEPORTEES. LONDON, May 18. One hundred deportees, who had been confined in Mountjov Gaol, Dublin, were returned to England to-day. The route from the prison to the steamer was patrolled by armoured cars. The authorities kept the departure a close secret, so that there was no public demonstration. The deportees had a heavily-armed escort, and marched silently through the empty streets, the women being driven in motortenders. They cheered shrilly and sang. .They broke into renewed singing as the steamer sailed. Thev will be despatched to their respective destinations from Holyhead. There were wild scenes of enthusiasm at Euston Station upon the arrival of 40 of the deportees, including a number of women. A crowd of Irish sympathisers waved the Republican flag, and, forcing the platform barriers, mounted the train footboard as it steamed in. Councillor Purcell, one of the deportees, stated that he understood that only 10 of the deportees would be proceeded against. The deportees, owing to their bad treatment at Mountjoy Prison, had tried to telegraph protests to Mr Bridgeman, nut the wording had been interfered with. Their letters and food parcels had also suffered interference. He had proof that some of the deportees had been taken to the basement and beaten with rille butts. One was put against the wall and kept hanging by his hands 7ft from the ground for two hours. He was then taken down and kept handcuffed for three days. Mr Purcell said he himself had suffered from lumbago and was refused extra blankets and medical treatment. Another deportee contracted German measles, hut was forced to mix with the other internees. The armed guards were hostile and impertinent, and threatened them with revolvers on the slightest provocation.

HEAVY I IKING IN DUBLIN. LONDON, May 19. After three weeks’ lull, fighting broke out in Dublin on Friday night. Very heavy firing was heard between 11 o’cloeii and midnight, all over the city. The principal military barracks were attacked and several Free State patrols were sniped at from the roofs. The firing stopped at midnight, and the city was quiet again. AN EMPHATIC DENIAL. LONDON, May 18. Military headquarters issues a total denial of the alleged ill-treatment of the deportees. The statement that one man was kept hanging by his hands from the wall is characterised as an absurd and malicious falsehood. THE IRISH ENVOYS. SYDNEY, May 13. The Irish envoys appeared before a special court to tie; late why they should not be deported. Counsel for the defendants argued that the court had no jurisdiction, and no power to deport British subjects with passports from one dominion to another. The hearing was adjourned till next week.