§ MR. HENNESSYrose to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether the threatened Government prosecution, commenced more than twelve months ago, against the Rev. Patrick Lavelle, would be further proceeded with?
§ MR. O'HAGAN, in reply, said, the prosecution in question was instituted under these circumstances:—Informations had been laid against the Rev. Mr. Lavelle, charging him with participation in a riot. The local Magistrates differed as to the taking of the informations, and they were taken by one of the resident Magistrates. They came before him (Mr. O'Hagan) in in the usual way, and a bill was found by the grand jury against the Rev. Mr. Lavelle and his brother; but before the trial came on, the brother of the Rev. Mr. Lavelle—the person principally charged in the indictment for riot—died under very painful and melancholy circumstances. He was killed by a fall from his horse. Immediately after that, representations were made to the local authorities that it would tend to the advancement of good feeling and kindly spirit in the neighbourhood if proceedings were stopped. Under these circumstances, he had thought himself justified in directing the prosecution to be stopped, and no further proceedings would be taken in it.