§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W., and Sligo, S.)asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, What course the Government intend to take with regard to the arrest and imprisonment, at Belfast, of a sergeant and eight constables of the Irish Constabulary Force, on the Belfast coroner's warrant, on a charge of wilful murder?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES) (Dublin University)The constables referred to in the Question of the hon. Member have been arrested under the Coroner's warrout, over which the Government has no control. Care, however, has been taken that these men shall have the advantage of adequate legal assistance; and it will, of course, be for their legal advisers to say what steps should be taken in their behalf.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether the constables are to be admitted to bail?
§ MR. HOLMESAny such application as that must come from the constables themselves; and it is upon that and such matters that their legal advisers will give them the assistance they require.
§ MR. SEXTONwished to know whether in recent years it had been usual for any one to be arrested in Ireland upon a Coroner's warrant?
§ MR. HOLMESArrests have been made on Coroners' warrants week after week, and, I may almost say, day after day in Ireland.
§ MR. HEALY (Cork)May I ask if the right hon. and learned Gentleman is aware that in the case of the Ballyragget inquest, in which police were similarly returned for trial, the Government of the day did not bring up the verdict into the Queen's Bench for the purpose of having it quashed?
§ MR. HOLMESI really cannot answer as to what has been done on former occasions. The object of giving legal assistance to these constables is that they should have the fullest advice, 273 and that all the steps that are necessary should be taken on their behalf. I may say further that, as far as I can understand, that has always been the case when any charges are made against the Constabulary, or proceedings are taken against them.