IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1919, Page 5

IRELAND.

... PADRE UNDER ARREST. ALLEGED-SEDITIOUS LANGUAGE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, October 21. It is understood that the charges against Father O'Donnell, a chaplain in •the Australian forces, who was arrested in Dublin on the 18th, allege that he attended a Sinn Fein Convention in uniform. It is also stated that he dined with Mr Griffith, Acting-Presi-dent of the Sinn Fein movement. Father O'Donnell, in an interview, Btated that he visited Dublin to consult a specialist and subsequently visited friends and relatives in various parts of Ireland. He. soon discovered that he was being followed and he realised that he had struck a listening post in the Killarney Hotel, when he began to talk to a man who professed deafness. He discussed current affairs, including the strike and Britain's failure to solve the Irish problem. He chose subjects cavefully in view of the fact that there were listeners in the room. Father O'Donnell met more mysterious strangers in Cork, who were anxious to conVerse with him. He added that when he returned to Dublin the Assistant Provost-Marshal said that he had received a report that he had used bad and seditious language at Killarney. Father O'Donnell replied "that thjs wa s absolutely untrue. His airest followed on a charge of conduct prejudicial to order and discipline. lit is reported in Dublin that Father O'Donnell's release is imminent. He remarked to an interviewer: "It is a strange climax to find myself in a traitor's cell in the land of my forefathers, considering the part played in Australia in connection with the war, the recommendations with which I came to England and the fact that I frequently risked my life in battle."— Aus.-N.Z." Cable Assn.