§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If the dying declaration of Patrick Slattery, of Derrynapila, set forth that, actuated by spite, he procured a boy named Markham to give false evidence against the brothers Delahunty, sentenced to penal servitude for life at the Cork Winter Assizes of 1882, for the alleged offence of firing at one Donnellan; if he will state why the Delahuntys were secretly conveyed from. Ennis Gaol to Killaloe, some thirty miles, in order to be returned for trial, 177 without any notice being given to the solicitor whom they had consulted, and although Kilbarron (the scene of the alleged outrage) is as near to Ennis as to Killaloe; if it is a fact that P. Slattery was liberated from gaol in order to enable him to procure certain evidence against the Delahuntys, and also that there was an effort made to induce him to go to Cork to corroborate the evidence of Markham; if it is a fact that Patrick Slattery, in his dying declaration, has stated that it was in consequence of the inducements and solicitations of Sergeant O'Halloran that he procured Markham to swear falsely, and that Sergeant O'Halloran said to him, immediately before the trial of the Delahuutys, that "now was his time to be even with them," O'Halloran knowing that personal enmity existed between Slattery and the prisoners; if he will state the rewards, either in rank or money, conferred upon O'Halloran for his action in the case, and the amount of money given to Markham for his evidence, and for his expenses also to the other witnesses; upon what grounds does the Irish Government discredit Slattery's statement, and will they inquire into the conduct of Sergeant O'Halloran; will any further action be taken by the Government to sift the evidence in the case fully; and, if it is true that three of the Crown witnesses have since fled the country?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe declaration of Slattery in substance states as mentioned in the Question. The Delahuntys were not secretly conveyed from Ennis to Killaloe. Their friends were informed Borne days before of the intention to hold the investigation, and witnesses for the prisoners, and a solicitor on their behalf attended. It is not the fact that Slattery was liberated from gaol in order to enable him to procure evidence against the Delahuntys, and no effort was made to induce him to go to Cork. Slattery does state in his declaration as referred to in paragraph 4 of the Question; but no importance is attached to his statement. He was a man of bad character. He was not a witness for the Crown. Markham, who gave evidence which is believed, was the least important witness for the Crown. The man who was fired at swore he saw the shot fired by one of the prisoners. Another witness heard the shot, and saw the prisoners running from the scene; and a third proved he 178 heard one of the prisoners frequently say he would shoot Donnellan. Sergeant O'Halloran, who bears a very high character in the Force, obtained a favourable record for his exertions in the case, and a reward of £5. Neither Markham nor any other witness was paid for his evidence. He received his expenses as regulated by the Crown Solicitor. None of the witnesses have fled the country in the sense mentioned in the Question. They left out of consideration for their personal safety. The Government is satisfied that the conviction was right and obtained on unimpeachable evidence, and there is no intention of making further inquiry.
§ MR. KENNYIs it not the fact that the solicitor for the prisoners was not informed of their being conveyed to Killaloe, and that another solicitor had to be obtained at Nenagh, and had only a few hours to be instructed? I would also inquire whether application was made to Mr. Burke, R.M., to liberate Slattery from gaol?
§ MR. TREVELYANPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will give Notice of those Questions,
MR. O'BRIENasked whether the Government found out this man's bad character when they were utilizing him for the conviction of these men?
§ [No reply.]