HC Deb 26 June 1890 vol 346 cc45-7
MR. DALTON (Donegal, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, in the course of the hearing the charge against Conaghan, the bailiff of the Olphert Estate, for presenting his revolver in a drunken fit at one Peter M'Ginley, the defence made by Conaghan was that he had been assaulted by M'Ginley, and that he swore that the blow he received "felled him to the ground, rendering him unconscious," thereby proving that the presenting of the revolver by him must have been before the alleged assault; whether the following report in the Derry Journal of 18th June instant, of the Judgment of the Court consisting of two Resident Magistrates, is correct— The Court commented strongly upon Conaghan's conduct in going about the country carrying a revolver in a threatening attitude, protected as he usually is by a strong body guard of police, and, to mark their sense of the outrage, they ordered Conaghan to be bound to keep the peace for 12 months; and whether the licence to carry arms granted to Conaghan will be revoked?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am informed that the defence made by Conaghan was that, being threatened by M'Ginley, he attempted to draw his revolver, but that before he could do so lie was knocked senseless by M'Ginley. I am further informed that the newspaper report is not correct, except as to the fact that Conaghan was bound to keep the peace for 12 months for giving M'Ginley provocation. The revolver was unloaded, and Conaghan had no ammunition on his person that day. The Resident Magistrate sees no reason why his licence should be revoked for producing an empty revolver.

MR. DALTON

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a paragraph in the Derry Journal of the 23rd June, which describes an attack made by Mr. Hewson, agent to the Olphert Estate, Donegal, upon a number of men and women who were engaged in collecting seaweed upon the strand at Maheroarty on the 21st June, in which it is stated that The agent Hewson, who was accompanied by military and police (on their way back from attending evictions on the Olphert Estate) made a descent upon the people. The women and boys, who were engaged to their waists in the water catching the drift from the receding waves, fled when they saw the agent approaching. The wheel of one of the carts came off, and while Hewson was grappling in the water with the driver the other carts were galloped rapidly to the shore hotly pursued by the agent; whether the police, returning from eviction duty, had any authority to assist the agent in harrassing these men and women engaged in saving seaweed on the sea-shore; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am informed that the report in the newspaper mentioned is altogether inaccurate. Mr. Hewson made no attack upon the people. The constabulary and military were not with him. There were three constables protecting a bailiff, but they did not interfere.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

Is it lawful for the agent or the landlord to prevent the people by force collecting seaweed floating in the sea.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not aware that any force was used. I gather there was not.