§ MR. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that Denis Murphy, 1828 of Blackpool, Kilmallock, county Limerick, with his wife and six children, were evicted from their holding on the property of Mr. John Coote on the 23rd of this month; and, if the total amount due at the time was only one year's rent and a balance of £22 8s. which accrued during the bad harvests of 1878 and 1879?
§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked, whether the Denis Murphy mentioned in the Question was the same Denis Murphy who had been evicted in 1880 for nonpayment of £230, or one and a-half years' rent, and who took forcible possession of his house, and was tried for that offence at the Assizes, when the jury disagreed; whether he did not again take forcible possession of his house; whether his holding did not comprise 70 acres of land of the best quality; and whether his last eviction was not for the violence of his conduct, and not for non-payment of rent?
§ MR. O'SULLIVANsaid, that, perhaps, in answering that Question, the right hon. Gentleman would say whether Denis Murphy did not pay all the rent that was due before the six months had elapsed, except a small balance of £18, and also that he had to pay the landlord's costs?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER,in reply, said, that the story evidently had two sides. His own information was to the effect that Denis Murphy had been originally evicted, not for non-payment of rent, but for some other reason; that he had twice retaken forcible possession of his house, and had been tried, as stated by the hon. Member for Leitrim. His last ejectment was in June, 1880, when one and a-half years' rent was owing.
§ MR. HEALYasked, whether a man was not said to retake forcible possession of his house when he merely took the staple off the door, and, for instance, returned to sleep there?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERWhatever the offence is, it consists in breaking the law.