§ Mr. O'Connellmoved for a Return of the number of persons killed and wounded in Ireland in the various contests with the police.
§ Mr. Dohertysaid, it was impossible that any such return could be made. The number of killed might be known, but there were no means of ascertaining the number of wounded.
§ Mr. O'Connellexpressed his surprise to find, that the lives of the people were of so little value in Ireland that the Government could give no satisfactory account of the results of the contests in which they were sacrificed.
§ Sir H. Hardingesaid, that the number of killed in the affrays, between the constabulary force armed on one side, and the people also armed on the other, were ascertained by the return of the Coroner, who inquired into the cause of death; but it must be known to every man that no account was taken of the number of wounded. He begged at the same time to express his opinion, that the constabulary force was most efficient as a body, and he believed, most sincerely, that to their good conduct and meritorious exertions, the preservation of the peace of Ireland was mainly to be attributed.
§ The return ordered, so far as it could be made.