HC Deb 20 April 1883 vol 278 cc745-6
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that a circular was issued by Mr. Clifford Lloyd, special R.M. on the 11th instant, to the several constables in charge of Royal Irish Constabulary Stations in the county Galway, ordering them to threaten any person they might suspect of either collecting for or subscribing to the Galway Prisoners' Fair Trial Fund, that he, Mr. Lloyd, would prosecute them for so doing; and, whether all such persons have not a legal right to subscribe to or collect for any fund in aid of a fair trial? I would like to ask, in addition, whether intimidation in all its forms having practically disappeared from County Galway, the effect of the measures taken by the police is not to prevent the prisoners having a fair trial?

MR. TREVELYAN

The hon. Member has given Notice of a Motion in consequence of a pretty outspoken answer of mine yesterday. It is not the case that any such circular has been issued; but directions on the subject have been given, the nature and grounds of which I fully explained to the House yesterday in reply to Questions put to me by the hon. Member for Galway town and the hon. Member for the county of Cavan.

MR. PARNELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman say in what manner prisoners without means can be defended if the police are directed to prevent the collection of trial funds? From what source does he propose—in view of the fact that the Government has thought it right to stop collections by the people of the locality in aid of the defence—that the expenses of the defence shall be met, so that a fair trial may be secured?

MR. TREVELYAN

I stated in a very full House yesterday the peculiar nature of the course which the Government have taken. It is a very exceptional method of collecting funds for the defence of prisoners. It is not at all necessary that these funds should be collected by house-to-house visits by persons whom the Government believe to be members of a secret society by which some very serious murders have been committed.

MR. SEXTON

I would ask, whether certain observations which the right hon. Gentleman made yesterday, in view of certain crimes committed in the limited district of Loughrea, are to be understood to refer to the whole of the county of Galway?

MR. TREVELYAN

I referred to certain requests for funds made by certain people.