§ MR. CALLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is a fact that a money payment has been made to Mr. John M'Caffrey, junior, of Dundalk, as compensation for an alleged withholding or cancelling of a licence to carry arms under the Peace Preservation Act; and, if so, by whose orders, out of what fund was the money paid, and to whom charged?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, the case alluded to took place before he came into office, and appeared to have been pressed upon the attention of the late Government. The man had lost his licence to carry arms, and, owing to some neglect or carelessness, he was for some time deprived of the right of carrying arms. For that deprivation it was thought that some compensation ought to be given to him, and a few pounds were, accordingly, awarded to him as compensation. He must decline to say out of what fund the money was paid.