§ MR. WHALLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the statement 1934 in the public journals that Mrs. Neill addressed a letter to the Lord Lieutenant, specifying the priest by whom, and other circumstances connected with the altar denunciation on the Sunday preceding her murder, is true; and, if so, whether any measures were taken in consequence of such communication?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, no communication was addressed by Mrs. Neill to the Lord Lieutenant. On the 25th May, however, she wrote to a constable to inquire whether a priest had commented on her proceedings, on Sunday the 19th. That letter was forwarded by the constable to the Irish Government; but it was not received at the Castle till after the murder, which took place on the 27th. As to the alleged denunciation, the facts, as reported by the constabulary, were these—The priest on Sunday the 19th, after celebrating mass, alluded to the eviction of Welsh, and recommended the parishioners to defray the expenses of his case, promising to head the subscription himself with £5, and making arrangements for a collection in the evening. But no subscriptions were received. There was no denunciation either in the priest's chapel, or any other.