IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1919, Page 5

IRELAND.

AUSTRALIAN PADRE EPISODE. AN INTERVIEW WITH O'DONNELL. Received Oct- 0, 8.35 pm. London, Oct. 28. Father O'Donnell, the Australian chaplain who was arrested in Ireland, interviewed by the Australian Press Associa. tion, detailed his movements in Ireland prior to arrest. He said he discovered he was being followed and he declared he would be pleased to repeat everything he said in the King's and in Mr. Lloya George's presence. "When an officer came up and asked me not to talk so loudly, I explained the other man was deaf and told the officer to mind his own business," - he added. "The charge made when I was imprisoned in Dublin Castle was contrary to military law, inasmuch that it did not specify the exact act with which I was charged. "I was confined in a filthy cell attached to Dublin Castle. There was no fire and only a few dirty blankets, and was not permitted to communicate with friends. Two days later the Irish Times, the official organ of the Government, announced that I had been arreste'l under a misunderstanding, but released the next day. The Irish limes stated I was being immediately deported to Australia.

"My legal advisors took action in the High Court in Dublin with the result that an Australian escort brought me to London. I was amazed to find myself imprisoned in the Tower. This morning I was taken to the Australian military headquarters, where I was released under open arrest. "After my endeavours in the interests of Australia during five year 3 of war every fair-minded person would be convinced I am not a traitor,, but I feel sure that every liberty loving Australian will regret that after a war fought for liberty by all peoples, great and small, that the land of my forefathers is to-day suffering under military despotism." tFather O'Donnell, who was a chaplain in the Australian forces, and who was arrested in Dublin on Saturday week, was placed under an armed guard. It is alleged that he attended the Sinn Fein Convention in uniform. It was also stated that Father O'Donnell dined with Arthur Griffith, Acting-President iof the Sinn Fein.]