§ Mr. Grattanrose, to move for copies of the proceedings before a coroner's jury on an inquest held on the body of one M'Can. It appeared from the information which he had received, that the unfortunate sufferer was an agent employed in the collection of rents, in the barony of Strathbane. He was returning to his home, when he entered a public-house, where he met several of the tenants from whom he was to receive rent. Two police-officers came afterwards into the same house, and caused a riot and affray, in the course of which the agent was killed. The hon. gentleman said his information went on to state, that an inquest had been held on the body, at which two surgeons attended, who swore that the death of the deceased was occasioned by an inflammation of the bowels; and that upon this evidence the jury acquitted the police-officer, notwithstanding the dying declaration of the victim, who said that be had been killed by the police-man. The hon. gentleman did not know whether the police-man was still at large, or whether any proceedings had been taken against him. He was, however, induced to make the present motion, in the hope of calling the attention of the magistrates to the conduct of this description of men, who, in the county where this transaction occurred, were notorious for the commission of violent and illegal acts. They were often taken up, and sometimes removed; but never, that he had been able to learn, discharged. The consequence was, that the public had no confidence in the administration of justice, as regarded them; and it was with a view to remedy the existing abuses, by the adoption of some ulterior measures, that he now moved "for copies of the proceedings on the coroner's inquest held on the body of Michael M'Can, at Vicarstown in the Queen's County."
§ Mr. Goulburnthought, that without 138 going into the facts of the case, the hon. gentleman would agree that it was not at present adviseable to adopt such measures as he had proposed. He had received no information from Ireland respecting this case; but even supposing the statement of the hon. gentleman to be, as it probably was, quite correct, still he thought that upon general principles, his motion ought not to be acceded to. An individual had come by his death in a public-house, and the coroner's jury had been of opinion that he died in the course of nature. Suppose the police-officer had actually murdered this man; he would ask the hon. gentleman, whether he thought by the publication of the evidence on the inquest he was more likely to obtain justice on the criminal, or whether he would not rather enable him to shape his defence so as to evade it? The hon. gentleman knew very well, that the verdict of the jury did not preclude the trial of the police-officer; and even at this moment he might be indicted by the family of the deceased, or the local government might interfere, if they saw any necessity for doing so. He would ask the hon. gentleman, knowing as he did, the state of the part of Ireland now alluded to, whether he did not think that the publication of the evidence which he now sought, might not be highly injurious by giving the accused an opportunity of getting out of the way, or adopting some of the other expedients which were too frequent in that part of the country for eluding the pursuit of justice? He was as anxious as the hon. gentleman could be to see the police-officers punished whenever they acted improperly, and no less desirous that they should be protected in the faithful discharge of their duty.
§ Mr. Grattanwas only desirous to excite a proper degree of attention to this subject, and if the right hon. gentleman would promise to take the case under his own care, and adopt such proceedings as might be necessary, he would gladly leave it in his hands, and withdraw his motion.
§ Mr. Goulburn, would not pledge himself to commence a prosecution in a case of which he knew nothing, but he would make inquiries into it, and what the justice of the affair required should be done.
§ Mr. Grattanexpressed himself satisfied, and withdrew his motion.