HC Deb 26 August 1886 vol 308 cc539-40
MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether, having regard to the excited state of feeling likely to exist for some time in Belfast, he proposes to permit the two men Walker, returned for trial for the murder of Head Constable Gardiner, to be tried before a Belfast common jury?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. HOLMES) (Dublin University)

I think that at the present moment Belfast would be a very unsuitable place for trying the cases referred to in the Question of the hon. Member; but it is to be hoped that the excited state of feeling there will not continue for any considerable time.

MR. MAURICE HEALY

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether it is intended to try these prisoners at the coming Winter Assizes?

MR. HOLMES

That is a Question which I cannot answer at the present time, because it is premature to take it into consideration.

MR. MAURICE HEALY

May I further ask whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman does not consider this a proper case for the exercise of his power of applying to the Queen's Bench to change the venue, as was done by his Predecessor, Mr. Attorney General Johnson, in an agrarian murder case three or four years ago?

MR. HOLMES

I must repeat I cannot answer the Question at the present moment.