HC Deb 05 April 1883 vol 277 cc1497-8
MR. LALOR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it be true, as stated in the "Observer" of Sunday last— That a number of witnesses who will be produced for the defence of the prisoners about to be tried for the Phoenix Park murders have been examined by Mr. Ourran, with the view of rebutting their evidence, if necessary; if true, is such a course usual against prisoners about to be tried for their lives; and, what explanation can be given for the examination of witnesses for the defence by an agent of the Government before the trial?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, Mr. Curran does not know that any of the persons examined by him will be produced as witnesses for the defence. He has examined every person he could hear of, whether in Ireland or England, who, in his opinion, could throw any light on the case, or could give an account of, or information as to, the movements of the prisoners. At the time Mr. Curran summoned the witnesses he had no reason to suppose that they would be produced for the defence; and, therefore, certainly he did not examine them with the view of rebutting their evidence.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

I would wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether a record has been taken of the evidence given before Mr. Curran in connection with this case; and if the prisoners who gave that evidence are examined as witnesses, will the Crown consent to have their original depositions taken before Mr. Curran produced at the trial, with the view of being able to compare the evidence given by those witnesses at different periods?

MR. TREVELYAN

That is a Question that I cannot answer off-hand. It is a Question of great importance, and it is necessary to consider it; but it is certain that each case will have to be decided on its own merits, for the circumstances differ in almost all the cases.

MR. LALOR

asked whether Mr. Curran now had any reason to suppose that some of the persons examined by him will be examined as witnesses for the defence?

MR. TREVELYAN

Mr. Curran is not aware. As I said before, Mr. Curran has kept himself extremely clear from all the circumstances connected with the subsequent trial. He has devoted his inquiry to his own special business, which was to collect the preliminary information.

MR. O'KELLY

Are we to understand that the evidence given before Mr. Curran will only be produced when it is satisfactory to the Crown, and that it will not be produced when it is in favour of the prisoner? That is the effect of the Chief Secretary's answer.

[No reply was given.]