§ MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in the case of Mr. John Lyons, a merchant of Portumna, and three other men, at present undergoing a sentence of two months' imprisonment with hard labour for the alleged intimi- 1113 dation of James Mitchell, Mitchell, when produced as a witness by the Crown, swore that he did not know any of the defendants; that they had never intimidated him, or attempted to do so, and that they had never in any way attempted to induce him not to buy Dillon's hay; and if he will consider the advisability of releasing these men from prison?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs already stated in reply to previous questions, the case referred to had a careful hearing, and the evidence was fully considered before the Court of First Instance, and subsequently before the County Court Judge on appeal. On the facts of the case, therefore, there appears to be no ground to interfere with the course of the law. It is, however, of course, open to the prisoners to memorial the Lord Lieutenant in the usual way should they so desire.
§ MR. ROCHEThe Chief Secretary has not answered my question, which was, "Whether Mr. Mitchell, when produced as a witness by the Crown, swore that he did not know any of the defendants, that they had never intimidated him, or attempted to do so, and that they had never in any way attempted to induce him not to bay Dillon's hay." Did Mr. Mitchell make that statement in Court or did he not?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think in answer to the previous question of the hon. Member, I declined to discuss before the House the evidence given in a case of this kind.