THE ADVENTURES OF A PRIEST

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 31, 31 October 1919, Page 7

THE ADVENTURES OF A PRIEST

FATHER O'DONNELL TELLS HIS STORY

AN AMAZING TALE By TeleEraDh—Preßs Association—Conyrieht j (Roc. October :»', Jvl.Vp.m.) ' London,"Octobcr 2S. l''atlier O'Donncll, interviewed by the ; Australian. Press Association represcuta- ; live, detailed his movements in Ireland prior to his arrest. He said he discover- j pj that lie was Menu; followed, and de- ■ elared that ho would be pleased to repeat everything he had said in the King's and Mr. Lloyd George*.' presence. "When an officer came up and asked me not io ' ■ talk so loudly, I explained that the other i man was deaf, and told the officer to liiiud his owu business," continued father O'Donncil. "The charge that was mado when I was imprisoned in Dublin Castlo' > was contrary to military law, inasmuch j as it did not specify the exact ael: with j which' 1 was charged. 1 was confined in a filthy cell attached to Dublin Castle. . , There was no lire, and only a few dirty blankets, and I. was not 'permitted. to lommunieate with my friends. Two days i later the 'Irish Times,' the:'official or- .' Kan of the Government, announced that i I had been arrested under a misunderstanding, but was released next day. Tlio ! 'Irish Times' stated that I was being im- * mediately deported to Australia. Sly legal advisers took action in the Uigh Court at Dublin, with the result that an Australian escort brought me to Lou- ' don. J. was amazed to find myself im- • prisoned in the Tower. This morning I was taken io the Australian Military Headquarters, where I was released un- ; der open arrest. After my endeavours ; in the interests of Australia during live ; years of war, every fair-minded person '; must be convinced that ■! am not a ' titutor, but 1 feel suro that every liberlv- i loving Australian will regret, after a war i that had been fought for the liberty of ' all peoples, great and small, that the- j land of my forefathers, is to-day suffering I under a military despotism." j Puther O'Donuell said he would again j urge Australia to do what she t'i'd iu > the w-ar under similar, circumstances.- i Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ;