§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether it is the fact, as reported in the newspapers, that at the 1603 Kilrush Petty Sessions, Mr. John C. Mahony, J.P., presiding, a young man named Thomas W. Coote was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour for laughing at a policeman; whether it is also the fact that at Longford, on Tuesday last, the Court, consisting of Colonels Bowlby and Stewart, on the request of District Inspector Flower, warned persons allowing their children to hoot or cheer parties obnoxious to them, as the children would be sent to a reformatory; and, whether he can state under what branch of the Common or Statute Law it is a crime to cheer, hoot, or laugh at other persons?
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)Thomas Coote was sentenced to pay a fine of 10s., or, in default, to be imprisoned for 14 days, for riotous behaviour in hooting and groaning at the police while they were engaged in dispersing a disorderly crowd in the streets of Kilrush. The prosecution was under the provisions of the Towns Improvement Act, 1854, before Mr. Mahony, borough magistrate. I am informed that the statement in the second paragraph of the Question as to what occurred at Longford on Tuesday last is without foundation. The hon. Gentleman will see that the Question put to me in the third paragraph does not arise.
§ MR. CONYBEAREThe hon. and learned Gentleman has not answered the last paragraph of the Question. Is it a crime to cheer, hoot, or laugh at other persons?
§ MR. MADDENI am quite ready to answer any Question of law if there is any substratum of fact to support it; but, inasmuch as there has been no prosecution for any such act as that referred to in the Question, I would be trifling with the House if I were to answer it.
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I would ask the hon. and learned Gentleman, how many men are in gaol in Ireland for the crime of having merely laughed at the police?
§ MR. MADDENNone, Sir.
§ DR. TANNERMr. Speaker, I would ask—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. CONYBEAREasked, was he not right in stating that this young man was sent to gaol for hooting and laughing at policemen?
§ MR. MADDENNo, Sir. The prosecution was under a section of the Towns Improvement Act of 1854, by which a borough magistrate can convict for riotous behaviour in the streets. The riotous behaviour in this case was what I have stated, hooting and groaning at the police while they were engaged in dispersing a disorderly crowd in the streets.