HC Deb 04 March 1862 vol 165 cc1023-4
MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK

said, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the murderer of Dr. M'Carthy at Pisa has been arrested and committed to take his trial; and, if not, whether the authorities in Tuscany or the British Consul at Leghorn have done their utmost to bring the offender to justice; and whether he will lay upon the table Copies of all Communications which have been addressed by British Diplomatic Agents and British Residents in Italy to the Government of Turin on the subject of Dr. M'Carthy, and the Replies thereto?

MR. LAYARD

said, that the circumstances under which the unfortunate Dr. M'Carthy had been murdered were well known. Immediately after the attack on him, the murderer and his accomplices were arrested. He would avail himself of the present opportunity to contradict a report which he had seen in the public press, to the effect that there had been an omission in not taking the murderer into the presence of Dr. M'Carthy that he might be identified. It had been proposed to adopt that course, but the public authorities at Pisa considered that there had been a sufficient identification, and they did not wish to put Dr. M'Carthy to the pain which such a proceeding might cause him. Immediately after the murder was made known to Baron Ricasoli he expressed himself in such a manner as those who knew him might have expected. The English residents at Florence and Pisa met soon after the occurrence. Their proceedings were characterized by an excitement which, under the circumstances, was, perhaps, but natural. However, the Italian authorities had done everything that was to have been expected. The prisoners had been sent to Lucca, where they would be tried and, no doubt, punished as they deserved. The memorials referred to by the hon. Gentleman had already been published; and he did not think it necessary to lay them on the table. No representations to the Italian Government were necessary, as they had shown their readiness to act with efficiency in this melancholy affair.