HC Deb 28 June 1877 vol 235 cc404-5
MR. E. JENKINS

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, What steps have been taken by the Irish Executive to discover the perpetrator of the murder of Mr. Young, J.P., county Roscommon, and of an attempt to shoot a Mr. Barrett, of county Galway; whether these two gentlemen were shot at in broad daylight; whether it is not known that one at least of the outrages was perpetrated in the presence of a number of witnesses; if he would state how soon after the commission of the crimes steps were taken by the Government to discover the perpetrators; whether rewards have been offered for such discovery in both cases; and, whether there is any reason to believe that these outrages are of an agrarian character?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

Mr. Young and Mr. Barrett were both fired at in broad daylight, but it is not known that either of the two outrages was perpetrated in the presence of a number of witnesses. In Mr. Barrett's case it was reported that some persons were working in the fields near; they stated they heard the shot, but took no notice of it, believing it had been fired at some crows. Immediately after Mr. Barrett had been fired at two suspected persons were arrested, and another has since been apprehended. In Mr. Young's case no sufficient evidence has as yet been obtained to warrant the arrest of any person. In both cases rewards have been offered for the discovery of the perpetrators of the crime, though in a somewhat different manner. In Mr. Young's case, in addition to a reward of £500 offered by the Government, over £1,000 has been locally subscribed for the same purpose; and I cannot but hope such an expression of public opinion, coming, as it has, from persons of all classes of society, may not be without effect, both in leading to the discovery of the murderer and in deterring evil-disposed persons in the neighbourhood from similar crime. Other steps have been taken by the Government, including the strengthening of the local constabulary force, but I do not think it advisable to state them in detail. I fear there is some reason to suppose that one of these crimes was of an agrarian nature.