MR. MACARTNEYasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether it is intended by the Law Officers of the Crown in Ireland to institute prosecutions against the persons who, in spite of the proclamations issued by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, made persevering and continued attempts to hold meetings of the National League at Newry, at Castlewellan, at Cootehill, and at Blacklion, and also at Park, in the county of Derry? He also wished to ask whether the hon. and learned Gentleman is aware that at the meeting which was 216 held a mile from Park, speeches were delivered by Mr. M'Loughlen and Mr. M'Closkey which occupied three columns in The Derry Journal?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)Sir, reports which have appeared of persevering or continued attempts to hold meetings at Newry, Castlewellan, Cootehill, Black-lion, or Park are much exaggerated. My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary, on the 22nd of this month, in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. J. N. Richardson), stated the facts within the knowledge of the Government as to the Castlewellan meeting, and intimated that the Government were advised that the attempt then made to address a few persons, who immediately dispersed on the approach of the military and police, did not afford sufficient ground for instituting a prosecution. Those observations equally apply to the other meetings mentioned in the Question, and the Government are advised that no sufficient grounds for instituting prosecutions exist. As regards the Question just put to me by the hon. Member, supplemental to that on the Paper, I believe, from the information before me, that the statements are equally exaggerated.