HC Deb 03 September 1880 vol 256 cc1186-7
MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to a report in the "Belfast News Letter," of the proceedings at a meeting at Donnecloney on Monday last, whereat one of the speakers, the Rev. Mr. Kane, said— Let us organize amongst ourselves a Protestant Individual Life Protection Society, and let us be furnished with the best weapons made, and for every Protestant shot in cold blood let there be the priests of the parish in which the murder was committed and the Home Rule Member for the county shot also; and, whether the Government intend to notice in any way this incentive to assassination?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

I have not seen the Belfast newspapers, nor do I know anything of the report except what I see in this Question. No one has written to me about it; and I cannot, therefore, but suppose that the report must be a mistake. It certainly seems almost impossible that any man—and much less any clergyman—could have made so outrageous a speech.

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in case the truth of the statement is brought to their official knowledge, the Irish Government will take any notice of such incendiary language?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

In all such cases, as the hon. and learned Member is well aware, the Government have to consider not only whether they disapprove of the language used; but whether a prosecution could be undertaken with a probability of success. Even if these words were uttered, which I do not believe, we must not only have complete evidence of their utterance; but we must be satisfied, before interfering, that a prosecution would be likely to succeed.

MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

I beg to give Notice that I will place in the hands of the Chief Secretary indisputable proof that the words were uttered.