HC Deb 31 March 1882 vol 268 cc483-4
MR. PATRICK MARTIN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Adams, of the Munster Circuit, who acted as counsel for the next-of-kin of James Mars field, in respect to whose death the jury at the inquest, held in Ballyragget, returned a verdict of wilful murder against the sub-inspector in charge of the police, which has been lately quashed by the Court of Queen's Bench, on the application of the Attorney General for Ireland, stated that when the first witness on behalf of the next-of-kin, John Delaney, of Abbeylaix, attended at the police barracks, pursuant to the coroner's directions, in order to identify the sub-inspector who gave the order to charge, Delaney, on entering the police barrack, was threatened, and it was stated his name would be taken down for the purpose of having him prosecuted; whether, during the inquest, and within forty-eight hours after this threat, John Delaney was in fact arrested under the Coercion Act, and has been since detained in Naas Gaol; what is the date of the warrant under which the said John Delaney was arrested; was not the said John Delaney at the time conducting a considerable business in Abbeylaix, which has been greatly injured by his detention; and is it the intention of the Chief Secretary to prolong the imprisonment of Delaney, which has now continued over five months, or to direct an inquiry into the circumstances of his case?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

, in reply, said, he was not informed Mr. Adams was present. Delaney was arrested under the Protection of Person and Property Act, on the 17th of October, under a warrant dated the 14th instant. His case was under the consideration of the Lord Lieutenant.

MR. PATRICK MARTIN

asked whether, if it was proved to the satisfaction of the right hon. and learned Gentleman that Mr. Adams and the Coroner were present, any steps would be taken for the release of Delaney?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

said, he thought not, and for this reason—he thought it would be a bad precedent to establish—that of making counsel in a case a witness in the case.

MR. PATRICK MARTIN

asked whether, in point of fact, the right hon. and learned Gentleman had received information to the effect that Mr. Adams was not present?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

I have received no information at all about Mr. Adams.