HC Deb 25 March 1887 vol 312 cc1465-6
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it the fact that Mrs. Lucas, wife of a Cork magistrate, was in March 1886, sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for having attempted to burn down her own mansion, then inhabited by her family and a protection party of police, by pouring paraffin oil over the curtains of her rooms, to which she set fire; that she was detected by, and convicted on the evidence of, the police who guarded the house; that her husband had claimed for compensation for malicious injury off the rates in this and other cases, which the Grand Jury rejected; is it the fact that Mrs. Lucas was released from gaol several months before the expiry of her sentence; that her husband still remains a magistrate for County Cork; at whose instance was the sentence commuted; and, in how many cases within the past sis years have sentences for arson, with intent to defraud, been commuted?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

the facts are substantially as stated in the Question. A Memorial was received on her behalf, numerously signed, the signatures including those of the Protestant clergyman and the Roman Catholic curates of the parish, setting forth that the case was one in which the clemency of the Lord Lieutenant might be properly exercised; and His Excellency, after considering all the facts, ordered the discharge of the prisoner. Two sentences for arson have been commuted within the last six years.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to say whether the claims of compensation made to the Grand Jury were rejected, as stated in the Question, and whether Mr. Lucas, who made these claims after getting his wife to set lire to the place, still retains the Commission of the Peace; and, will he also state whether these outrages, reported by the police as agrarian outrages, will be given in the Return as against the people?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Part of the Question of the hon. and learned Member I am unable to answer. The other part I have already answered, by stating that I believe the statement that the Grand Jury rejected the claims for compensation is accurate As to the assertion that the lady's husband urged her to commit the crime, I have no knowledge at all.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay the facts before the Lord Chancellor?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

the question has already been fairly judged and decided. His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant thought it was a case in which his clemencey should be extended, and I do not think the question should be reopened.