LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE IRISH FREE STATE. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Six,—There has just come to my notice an article in the Irish World (New York) for October 21st, by Hanna Sheehy Skeffmgton, entitled " I.R.A. Prisoners Tortured by the Free State." In it she comments on a letter (which she reprints) written by Father Joseph Smith, vice-rector of the Passionist Priory, Mt. Argus, which appeared in the Dublin Daily Independent on October 4th. In this letter he tells of the visit of a priest to Wellington Barracks, where I.R.A. prisoners were found badly wounded. He was informed by the prisoners, who spoke Irish—a language not understood by their guardians—that they had been tortured by the Free Staters in the endeavour to extort information from them. They were said to be in a pitiable condition as a result of their maltreatment.
Mrs. Skeffington, after recounting these facts, stated that the attempts of a deputation to gain a hearing of the Lord Mayor and the City Council for their protests were unavailing. She then called upon the United States to lodge a protest against such a " disgrace to civilization."
Similar allegations have, of course, been frequently made against the British in Ireland. Now that they cannot be blamed, the recriminations have started amongst the Irish themselves. Is there no way of ascertaining the truth in these matters and getting the wretched business cleared up ?
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