§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Michael Lighane, of Ballyvourny, was awarded £20 compensation by the Grand Jury of the County Cork for the burning of his stable, &c. on the night of December 2; how such burning was proved to be malicious, and in how many instances have the Grand Jury during the present 204 July sitting awarded considerable amounts of money as compensation for malicious burnings; and, what was the evidence in each case?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Inspector General of Constabulary reports that the statement in the first paragraph of the Question is correct. In about 26 cases the Grand Jury have, at the July sittings, awarded compensation for malicious burnings. The total amount of compensation awarded in all these cases was about £747. The Grand Jury, in making these awards, were acting under their statutable jurisdiction; and I have neither the means nor the power to describe or discuss the evidence they had before them.
§ DR. TANNERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many of these cases the burnings have been caused by landlords of the County of Cork, in order that they might get more for property they could not otherwise sell?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!