§ MR. BRADYsaid, he would beg to ask whether there is any truth in a statement which has appeared in the Irish Journals to the effect that a person named Burke, the principal evidence in the case of the Cormacks, lately executed at Thurles for the murder of Mr. Ellis, has since confessed, while in the hands of the authorities, that his evidence upon their trial had been false, and given under coercion; whether any investigations had taken place into the circumstances, and what had since been done with Burke?
§ MR. WHITESIDEin answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, said, that he believed the man Burke had made no such confession. In reply to the second part of the question, he had to say that an investigation had taken place. The witness was about to leave the country, as was, unfortunately, not uncommonly the case with such witnesses in Ireland, and it was reported to the Government that he had made some statement to the driver of a car, who drove him from Roscrea to Nenagh. His (Mr. Whiteside's) colleague, had investigated the matter, and found that there was nothing in it. The man had given his evidence in a manner that was satisfactory to the Court. As to the third part of the question, he could not tell where the man was, as he was free to go where he liked; but if he knew where he was he would not tell it.
§ MR. WHITESIDEsaid, he was disposed to think that Burke had been under the protection of the police after he gave his evidence, and before he left the country.