§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Detective Constable Kerr, of the Irish Constabulary Force, lately charged in the Belfast Police Court with the abduction of a girl under 17 years of age, is the same person who has been employed for some years as a Government reporter at Nationalist meetings in Ireland; whether, after it had been deposed in the police court that Kerr had brought the girl into a house of ill-fame, having been previously turned out of a lodging-house, Kerr was admitted to bail on his own recognizance; whether he failed to appear at the further hearing of the case; and, whether the police authorities have allowed him to emigrate, and have taken no steps to secure his arrest in the country to which he has emigrated? I wish also to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that it was only on Saturday last, when notice of this Question had appeared in the local Press, that steps were taken to recover the bails forfeited?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I am not aware of that fact. I should imagine that steps would have been taken at once. I am informed that the detective constable named was charged 886 as stated in the Question. When admitted to bail it was not on his own recognizance merely. He was required also to find two sureties in £25 each. It is not the case that he was allowed to emigrate. When he failed to appear the police took every step in their power to prevent his leaving the country and to secure his arrest. If, however, as is believed, he has succeeded in escaping to America, he could not, as I am advised, be arrested on the charge there.
§ MR. SEXTONWas he a Government reporter?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI have said so.