HC Deb 24 June 1890 vol 345 cc1774-5
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Very Rev. Canon Keller, parish priest at Youghal, was on Thursday last pursued whilst driving through his parish by three policemen on a car; and for what reason the rev. gentleman was so beset?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Constabulary Authorities report that the rev. Gentleman mentioned is actively engaged in endeavouring to promote an illegal conspiracy in connection with which he is associated with a man named Maurice Doyle, who accompanied him on the occasion in question. They were accordingly followed by the police, who appear to have acted rightly.

MR. DILLON

Is the Chief Secretary entitled to charge respectable gentlemen in Ireland with being engaged in a criminal conspiracy when no charge has been made, and no prosecution under- taken; will the right hon. Gentleman withdraw and apologise for his statement, or will he institute a prosecution against the rev. Canon?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, Sir; I see no grounds for withdrawing my state merit. I do not know whether the hon. Member for East Mayo is authorised to repudiate on the part of Canon Keller any intention whatever to promote the Plan of Campaign.

MR. DILLON

Is a Minister of the Crown entitled to charge a man with crime, and then persist in the charge unless the person repudiates it? Has any criminal charge been made against Canon Keller, or is it intended to proceed against him?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

If any evidence in support of a charge is forthcoming no doubt a charge will be brought. The hon. Gentleman is as perfectly aware as I am that there may be complete moral evidence—[Home Rule cries of "Oh!" and an hon. MEMBER: "Immoral"]—that a person is engaged in a particular conspiracy of this kind, which is yet not of a character to support a criminal prosecution.

MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

Does the right hon. Gentleman really take up the position that the existence of what he chooses to regard as moral evidence justifies him in making these very serious charges which he is not prepared to substantiate?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The right hon. Gentleman asks me a question. I will answer it by asking him another. Does he mean to say that I am precluded from asserting of any man in Ireland that he is engaged in supporting the Plan of Campaign, unless there is evidence for a prosecution forthcoming?

MR. E. HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)

Yes; and then you would choose the Magistrate.