§ MR. GILHOOLY (Cork, W.)asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether Mr. John O'Connor, shopkeeper, residing at Gneevagulla, was arrested by Mr. Sergeant Murphy; whether he was taken to the police barrack at Killarney, and searched, his boots having been taken off; whether he was subsequently released; whether Sergeant Murphy had a warrant empowering him to make the arrest; what offence against the law was Mr. O'Connor charged with; whether, owing to the arrest, Mr. O'Connor lost his train, and was put to other inconvenience; and, whether the Government will compensate Mr. O'Connor for the inconvenience which he suffered?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)The reply to the inquiries in the first three paragraphs is in the affirmative; to the fourth paragraph in the negative. Mr. John O'Connor was arrested by the policeman on the ground that he saw him engaged in an act done in pursuance of a criminal conspiracy. As regards the remaining portion of the Question, I have to state that he was immediately brought before a magistrate and discharged. The police, who were then going on patrol duty in the direction in which he lived, drove him to his own house. No unnecessary inconvenience was caused, and the Government 1594 are unable to adopt the course suggested.
§ MR. GILHOOLYasked, what illegal act was Mr. O'Connor engaged in?
§ MR. MADDENsaid, he was alleged by the policeman who arrested him to be engaged in an act done in pursuance of a criminal conspiracy—namely, the Plan of Campaign.