HC Deb 21 July 1890 vol 347 cc374-6
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has' been directed to a statement made by Justice Harrison at Galway on Friday last. Speaking of the condition of the county he used the following words:— In the eastern district I am sorry to tell you the evidence is the other way. The cases here are very serious, arising out of causes with which you are all familiar. The state of things here is such that why the people—I do not speak now of any section of the people or the officers of the law, but the whole people—who are the real sufferers by having to live under such conditions do not rise up and use lynch law is a mystery to me. I am astonished they do not do so. If they did, I think it would be a happy day for the administration of the law. It now seems completely paralysed throughout that district of your county. I will further ask, Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that lynch law is to take the lives of individuals without any sanction from the law, and is he aware that that language must be interpreted by the people of the country as an invitation from the Judge to murder certain individuals in that county; and what course does the Government intend to adopt?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have seen the report of the Judgment referred to. Whether that report is accurate or not I cannot say. I should guess, however, that it is not accurate; but, in any case, I am certain that no such invitation as that suggested was ever made by the learned Judge, or that his language can be interpreted by the people of the district in the sense supposed by the hon. Member.

MR. DILLON

I am able to state on the authority of one of the Grand Jurors that the report is accurate. I wish to know whether the Executive will call on the Judge for an explanation. I propose to place a Motion on the Paper condemning this language; and I ask the leader of the House whether he can see his way, supposing after inquiry the language is found to be accurate, to consent to give me an opportunity of bringing that Motion forward?

* MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

From what is the hon. Member quoting?

MR. DILLON

From the report in the Freeman's Journal of Saturday last. I have also here with me the Dublin Daily Express, which quotes the language of the Judge with approval, and intimates that, in its opinion, it would be a very proper course to follow the advice of the Judge and use lynch law. Before bringing the matter before the House I was at pains to ascertain from a member of the Grand Jury of Galway, who listened to the speech, that the report was perfectly accurate.

* MR. T. W. RUSSELL

Seeing that the hon. Member has been the victim of misreporting this week, did he ascertain from Mr. Justice Harrison if the Freeman Report was accurate?

MR. DILLON

I did not ask; I put that question to the leader of the House whether, on the supposition that the Government ascertain that the language has been correctly reported, he will give me facilities for bringing this Motion before the House?

* MR. W. H. SMITH

I think in a matter which affects a learned Judge it would be wrong for me to assume that language of this kind had been held, and I therefore cannot consent to the hon. Member's request.

MR. DILLON

I will put the question down for Friday, in order to give the Irish Executive a full opportunity to satisfy themselves. I repeat that this is a question on which the Irish Government ought to satisfy themselves whether the language was used. I ask the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government to give me an opportunity of bringing my Motion to an issue on this point.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Irish Government have no right to address questions to the Judges. No doubt Mr. Justice Harrison will see what has passed in the House, and if he chooses to give me an account of his charge I shall be grateful for it. We have no title whatever to interfere, directly or indirectly, with the action of the Irish Judges.

MR. DILLON

I shall certainly give notice to the First Lord of the Treasury on Thursday next that I shall ask him for an opportunity to bring forward this Motion.