§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has seen the reports in the newspapers of the trial of Messrs. Kennedy, P.L.G., Doyle, Milligan, Kavanagh, and Mordaunt, at Gorey, on Monday 5th instant, under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act: what was the nature of the evidence on which these men were sentenced to three months' imprisonment each with hard labour; whether it is true that two of the defendants, Messrs. Mordaunt and Kavanagh, were sentenced at the same Court on the same day to six months' imprisonment each with hard labour, in addition to the three months already inflicted; and whether it is true, as stated, that counsel for the defendants applied to the two Resident Magistrates to have a casestated, on the grounds that there was no evidence to go before a jury; and, if so, why was the application refused?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am informed that sentences were inflicted, as stated in the second and third paragraphs of the question. The Magistrates refused to state a case on the ground that the application was frivolous, as they were satisfied there was very strong evidence to go before a jury. I am unable to make any statement bearing on the nature of the evidence, two of the defendants having appealed.
§ MR. FLYNNWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Law Officers of the Crown in order to have a case stated?