HC Deb 05 March 1889 vol 333 cc953-4
DR. COMMINS (Roscommon, S.)

asked the Chief Secretary whether Luke Hayden, of Castlerea, in the county Roscommon, was taken from his bed under a warrant for an offence under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, at the hour of 11.30 of the night of the 3rd instant; whether the door of his house was broken in by the police for the purpose of effecting his arrest; whether he was not hurried off after such arrest by a night train to Castlebar, in another county; whether the warrant for such arrest was directed to issue three weeks before by the magistrates who had adjudicated upon his case; whether he was openly and publicly to be found in Castlerea during the three weeks intervening between the arrest and the adjudication of the Court by virtue of which he was arrested; and, whether he would give directions to the police to abstain from such a manner of executing warrants?

* MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Constabulary authorities report that the man mentioned was not arrested for an offence under the Criminal Law and Procedure Act, but under 34 Edward III. cap. I. The warrant was executed by the Police on the day on which it was received by them. No unnecessary hardship appears to have been inflicted on the man by the Police in their manner of effecting his arrest and conveying him to prison.

MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)

Does not the right hon. Gentleman remember that in a debate last Session it was pointed out that the Statute of Edward III. was repealed by the Statute of George III.?

* MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have no recollection of that. I have a recollection of the debate the hon. Gentleman alludes to, and of a conversation between the hon. Member and the Home Secretary as to the political aspects of the case; but I understand that the Act of Edward III. was not repealed by the Statute of George III.

MR. SEXTON

We find that a number of persons in respectable positions in life are arrested by having their houses broken into at night, and themselves taken out of bed. I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give instructions to the police to arrest persons charged with these offences at a time when it is not necessary to take them out of bed?

* MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am most anxious that these arrests should be effected at the most convenient time; but the hon. Gentleman is aware that every effort is being made in Ireland to prevent the carrying out of the law.

MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the second paragraph of the Question.

* MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I understand that the police went to the house, knocked, waited a reasonable time, and, admittance being refused, used such force as was necessary to open the door.