The Irish standard., 1917-07-07
] ireland Re- oiees Over
Release Of Prisoners
British Government Yields to Protest
Against lII-treatment of Political
Prisoners, Most of Whom Got No
Jury Trial for Their Alleged Of
fenses-WeIcome From Dublin.

Prisoners, Most of Whom Got No
Jury Trial for Their Alleged Of
fenses-WeIcome From Dublin.
(Press News Association Cable.)
Dublin, July 7th.-1mmense crowds
thronged the, streets of Dublin early
this morning to greet the 26S released
prisoners who were set free from Eng
fish prisons, where they served over
fourteen months, most OF them with
out trial, for participation in the at
tempted revolution of Easter week,
1916. This, the first group of released
men and women, arrived at the North
Wall station from Holyhead at 500
o'clock. A dense throng with bands
and banners, headed by the Lord
Mayor and members of the city coun-
Gil officers of the Irish Nation League
and the National Council of Sim Fein
accompanied by bands and men and
women carrying banners, filled the en-
trance to the North Wall station. A
strong police and military guard was
present and lined the streets, but the
enthusiasm of the people knew no
bounds. AS some of the noted lead
ers among the released prisoners were
recognized the cheering of the throng
was most enthusiastic, and process
sion was formed, and with flags fly
ing and bands playing Irish national
airs, the released prisoners were es-
corted to their homes.
Dublin expected John Mcneil, lead
er of the Irish Volunteers, who got a
life sentence, and the Countess Mar
Kiewicz Constance Gore-Booth) to be
among the first batch of released pris-
oners, and there was disappointment
when they were not seen.
TricoIor Raised Again.
An immense patriotic meeting was
held at night at the famous Rotunda,
at which several of the released pris-
oners and others spoke. Marching
tbrongs filled the streets cheering lus.
tily and carrying the flag of the Vol
unteers of 1916, the Irish Republican
emblem of green, white and orange.
There was no disorder, but intense en-
thusiasm.
Two men climbed the walls of the
ruined postoffice building, on which
they tied the Sim Fein flag, The
crowds sang the Sim F'ein song and
amid great cheering tore down recruit
ing posters. This was the only ap-
proach to disorder. Police later re-
moved the flag and made some ar
rests.
Cause of the Release.
London, June 19.-As announced in
the House of Commons by Bonar Law,
the release of the Irish political pris-
oners is due to desire to allay in
tense feeling in Ireland. For some
time past there have been complaints
that the Irish prisoners in England
had been grossly mistreated, and i'm
mense mass meetings had been organ
lied throughout Ireland, ending in the
climax which took place in Dublin two
weeks ago, when Count Plunkett and
others were arrested for holding a
mass meeting which had been pro-
claimed as illegal. After the meeting
had been dispersed and arrests made
police inspector was killed.
Dublin, July 7th. Count George
Noble Plunkett, M. p, for Roscom-
mon, father of the two noted rebel
leaders and himself president of the
Irish Nation League, who was arrest
ed ten days ago charged with sedition,
was released. from Kilmainham jail
with four companions this morning.
! Count Plunkett is regarded as the
leader of the Republican element. He
is bitterly opposed to the convention
that Premier Lloyd George has ar
ranged for. The count claims the con-
vention is not convention, but a con-
ference called to entrap the Irish. He
states in published statement that
''the proposed plan cannot represent
the Irish people, as the British gov.
eminent itself selects the delegates
The count has been agitating for an
elective convention chosen by the adult
suffrage of Ireland.
Z, His contention is that Lloyd George
has arranged it so that small anC
anti-Irish minority will dominate the
convention and that if the convention
fails to agree, it's English promoters
will tell the world "the Irish coult
not agree among themselves
Count Plunkett was born in 1851, ant
comes from the most prominent Cath
olic family in Ireland. He receives
his title from Pope Leo XIII. He wa
close friend and admirer of Charlie
Stewart Parnell. One of his sons wa
executed and the other given a lif
: sentence in connection with the re
: volt of 1916. He was recently cleo
: ed for Roscommon over the Redmond
3 tie candidate and is the recognize
\ leader of the Sim Fem and Republ
can element in Irish politics.