§ MR. M'CARTHY DOWNINGasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the charge of Mr. Justice Fitzgerald to the Grand Jury of the county of Londonderry, in which he directed the attention of that body to the deplorable loss of life which occurred at Mahera in that county on the 12th instant, by reason of a procession of Orangemen, marching armed, and firing on a number of navvies then at work on the Derry Railway; whether the learned judge did not refer to the Party Processions and Party Emblems Acts, one as having been repealed, and the other allowed to expire, in the hope that the good sense of the people would prevail, and put an end to the state of things then previously existing; and, whether, considering these lamentable circumstances, the Attorney General for Ireland will take into his consideration that further Legislative powers are required to put a stop to such party processions?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON)Sir, I have read in the Irish papers a report of the occurrence referred to, and when the matter comes before me, I shall, of course, give it my most anxious attention. But I think the present law is quite sufficient to put down offences of this kind without resorting to any new legislation.
§ MR. M'CARTHY DOWNINGSir, in consequence of the answer I have received, I beg to give Notice that early next Session I shall move a Resolution and bring in a Bill upon the subject.