HC Deb 19 June 1882 vol 270 cc1586-7
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ire- land, If the attention of His Excellency has been directed to the case of Patrick Slattery, who has been in prison since the 25th of July last year, on suspicion of being concerned in an unlawful assembly at Bodyke, on the 1st of June preceding; whether Patrick Slattery is the witness who, at the investigation into the death of John Moloney at Bodyke, on the said 1st of June, identified a sub-constable named O'Grady as having struck the deceased man two blows on the head with the butt end of his rifle; whether the arrest of Patrick Slattery did not take place until after his evidence against the sub-constable; whether Patrick Slattery is an American citizen, and whether he was offered his liberty on the 24th of April last on condition of his at once leaving the Country and returning to the United States; and, whether any sufficient reason exists for his continued detention in prison on any charge?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the offence for which Patrick Slattery was arrested was that of being reasonably suspected of riot, and shooting with intent to murder. The riot, which took place on the 1st of June, was a most serious one; the police were fired on, and the County Inspector's horse was shot. The circumstances otherwise are as detailed in the Question. He is a naturalized American citizen, and has been offered his release upon condition of his leaving Ireland and returning at once to America; but that condition has been objected to, and His Excellency cannot at present permit him to be at large in Ireland.

MR. O'DONNELL

said, he still wished to know if it was not a fact that Slattery's arrest did not take place until after he had identified a constable as having struck a man, who died, twice with the butt end of his gun?

MR. TREVELYAN,

in reply, said, that he had already answered the Question. Patrick Slattery was arrested be-cause he was reasonably suspected of being a principal in a most dangerous riot.

MR. O'DONNELL

gave Notice of his intention of asking the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant whether he was not arrested at the instance and upon the identification of the colleagues of the policeman?