IRISH PRISON HORRORS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 259, 19 April 1878, Page 7

IRISH PRISON HORRORS.

Tula statement of the horrible treatment of a political prisoner haß been published in the Dublin Freeman : — " Edward O'Kelly, one of the political prisoners in Spike Island, was visited l>y his sister on Tuesday, the 22nd of January. She had an order from Captain Barlow, Dublin Castle, to admit herself and another. But on landing on the Island alarm and suspicion were visible in the manner in which the officials behaved. Miss O'Kelly and her friend were desired to remain where they were while the officer took the order up to the prison. In about half an hour a warder returned, and said only herself would be allowed to see him. The sentinel changed so as to keep guard on the friend that remained. Shortly after the Deputy -Governor passed on. to the jetty, and signalled to a sloop ship convenient. A boat was lowered, and a number of marines got in, and were quickly on guard on the Island. Such vigilance had never been observed before when O'Kelly's sister visited him. During the interview with his sister he stated his treatment from the first had been exceptionally severe. For three years and a half lie was not allowed any out-door air or exercise whatever. The only ventilation being a very^mall window about the size of a pane of glass, which he left open at night, and to prevent him being suffocated. Within the last few months half an hour each day, and one hour on Sundays, has been given him for out-door exercise, owing to his sister having it brought under the notice of Sir M. H. Beach. He has been kept from the first in the special, or penal cells, where refractory prisoners, are punished and lunatics are kept previous to removing them to the asylum. He had never had one hour's consecutive sleep during all this time in consequence of the howling, cursing, and raving of the unfortunate wretches in the cells around him. None of the seven hundred prisoners on the Island are compelled to live in these penal cells, except while undergoing extra punishment for some misdemeanour, or, as stated, the insane are detained for some time, bxit Edward O'Kelly, Edward O'Connor, and, perhaps, one other, known to be political prisoners. He complains of his nervous system being completely shattered through this constant close confinement, want of air and healthy exercise, and continual absence of appetite. He has suffered severely from sickness also, having had cholera, inflammation, and ulceration of the throat, nervous debility, and nervous dyspepsia. The doctor has been administering aperient medicine at intervals during the last twelve months, though he said it was useless, as his case required air and exercise. O'Kelly further complains that he is locked up on Saturdays from 2 or 4 o'clock, when the workshop he has been occupied in is closed, until 7 o'efock the following Monday morning, not being taken out of his cell the whole time — from 39 to 41 hours — but half an hour to chapel j that he would not be permitted to pace his cell, though his limbs were benumbed with cold, and the stomach so completely collapsed that his food has had to be continually removed. He stated his condition to the Governor, and offered to remove his boots if he would be allowed to walk up and down his cell, but Mr Hay, the Governor, refused, on the ground that it would be against the rules. Since July last 4 cwt. of bread has been removed from his cell, which constitutes the principal portion of his rations, and which he is supposed to exist on, on account of the miserable state in which he has been kept. He further complains of a special warder being in constant attendance on him, and strictly enforcing the silent system."