HC Deb 09 August 1888 vol 330 cc112-4
SIR JOHN COLOMB (Tower Hamlets, Bow, &c.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that a man, named Patrick Murray, engaged in driving a Home Rule van about the country, is described in placards and advertisements as having "left the Royal Irish Constabulary rather than take part in evictions;" and, whether he can state the date and circumstances attending the resignation of Patrick Murray, and the character he bore while in that Force?

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to ask you whether it is in Order to put a Question containing an aspersion of this kind on the private character of an individual, and thus to attempt to deprive a poor man of his employment?

MR. SPEAKER

I am afraid if I were to rule that the Question is out of Order, I should have to rule a great many Questions out of Order.

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

The Inspector General of Constabulary reports that no man of the name of Patrick Murray appears to have resigned from the Royal Irish Constabulary for many years, nor does it appear that any man of that name left it rather than take part in eviction; but that three men of that name appeared to have ceased to belong to the Force in recent years—one in June, 1885, who deserted, taking with him a comrade's watch; he was arrested and sentenced to six months' imprisonment; another in June, 1886, who was discharged for drunkenness and absence; and another in August, 1887, who was discharged from ill-health on gratuity. These are the only men of the name who appear to have left the Force in recent years.

MR. SEXTON

Is not the man referred to in the Question the third man referred to by the Chief Secretary—namely, the Patrick Murray who was discharged in consequence of ill-health; and ought not the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Sir John Colomb) to be ashamed of himself for putting such a Question?

SIR JOHN COLOMB

Sir, I rise to Order. I wish to ask whether it is in Order, when one hon. Member puts a Question, for another hon. Member to ask whether he is not ashamed of himself for doing so?

MR. SPEAKER

It is clearly out of Order. The expression did not reach me, or I should have taken notice of it; but it is an improper and un-Parliamentary expression.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)

wished to ask the hon. and gallant Member whether, before putting a Question calling for an answer which involved the statement of a serious charge against a man named Murray, he had had the means of ascertaining the identity of the Patrick Murray mentioned in the Question; and whether the right hon. Gentleman thought it fair to bundle together two Patrick Murrays, with the result that a slur must be cast upon an innocent man?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not know what the hon. Member means by casting a slur upon an innocent man. I have been asked a Question, and I have answered to the best of my ability. I do not know any other way that I could have answered it but by giving the facts. So far as I can see, the man to whom the Question referred cannot be a very estimable character, as he is going about the country under false pretences.

MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman would undertake not to raise the defence of Parliamentary privilege if legal steps were taken against him by the man whose interests were involved with a view to clear his character?

MR. SPEAKER

Order! order!