§ MR. BLAKEsaid, he wished to put a Question to Mr. Attorney General for Ireland. It was stated in a paragraph which appeared in some of the Irish newspapers that Hayes, the man who has been put upon his trial at the Tipperary Assizes on the charge of having fired at Mr. Gore Jones, was induced to plead guilty by reason of being kept without food for a considerable time. In a Memorial presented to the Judge on behalf of Hayes, which was signed by fifteen respectable persons, it was stated that every inducement had been held out to Hayes to confess his guilt—that if he did so, he would be sent out of the country and provided for—that his family would be taken care of. In addition to those offers, the man was deprived of his usual quantity of food in order to induce him to plead guilty. Notwithstanding he had maintained his innocence for a considerable time, Hayes was at length induced by the pressure that was thus put upon him to withdraw his plea of not guilty, and to plead guilty to the charge. He (Mr. Blake) therefore wished to ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether there is any truth in those statements?
§ MR. O'HAGANsaid, he must complain of so grave a Question being asked without any previous notice being given. All he knew of the case was this. Two men had been charged upon information and otherwise with having fired at Mr. Gore Jones. They were brought before the magistrates, end committed for trial. At the last Assizes one of them was tried, but in consequence of the jury being unable to come to any decision upon the matter he was discharged. As to the other prisoner, it was impossible for him (Mr. O'Hagan) to reply to the statement referred to by the hon. Member without further information on the matter. He did not think that such a grave question as that raised by the hon. Member should be brought before the House upon no other foundation than a paragraph in a newspaper. It would be his duty as well as inclination to investigate the matter.
§ Mr. BLAKEsaid, he wished to know whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman would answer the Question if it were repeated to-morrow.
§ MR. O'HAGANsaid, he would not undertake to do so.