HC Deb 01 July 1878 vol 241 cc497-8
MAJOR NOLAN

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If in Ballinasloe the houses of Mr. Matthew Harris, and of Mr. Michael O'Sullivan, were visited by police at 3 a.m. on the 14th June, and a search made for arms; whether at the time of this search Mr. Harris had a licence to keep and to carry arms in an adjoining district; whether at the same time a search was made for documents in the above houses; and, if so, whether instructions were given that private documents and business letters should be examined by an ordinary constable; if the persons who supplied the information on which the search warrants were issued by the Lords Justices had made known to the Lords Justices the facts that Mr. Harris was secretary to a tenant's association, and had lately in that capacity been summoned to give evidence before a Committee of this House now sitting on the land question; if the Lords Justices were not so informed, can he state if any explanation has been assigned why these facts, notorious in the district, were not brought under their notice when their signatures were obtained; and, whether the police were instructed to inspect on the warrant granted any strictly legal communications addressed to Mr. Harris in his capacity as secretary or as a witness before a Committee of this House on the land question?

MR. J. LOWTHER

Sir, I find that in the houses indicated by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, a search for arms was made on the day named, but at a slightly later hour—namely, a quarter to 4, though that is not a very material point. It appears that in the year 1874, Mr. Harris obtained a licence to keep and carry arms in an adjoining district; but the authorities had felt themselves obliged upon very strong grounds to refuse a similar request made by him in the district where he now resides. No instructions were given authorizing a search for documents. As to whether the Lords Justices were informed that Mr. Harris was secretary to a tenants' association, and had been summoned to give evidence before a Committee of this House, I find that they were not. The reason why they were not so informed was, that those facts had no connection whatever with the matter in hand. The police were not instructed to inspect any documents or to concern themselves in any way with Mr. Harris's position as secretary to any association or body, nor with any evidence he might have given before a Committee or any other tribunal.

MAJOR NOLAN

said, his Question was not, whether instructions were given to search for documents, but whether they were searched for?

MR. J. LOWTHER,

in reply, said, he could only speak as to the instructions, and not as to the fact.

MAJOR NOLAN

said, he should repeat the Question on an early day, as he understood that a search was made.