§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will state whether Patrick Downey, of Castletown Bere, who was previously arrested and brought for trial before the magistrates on the charge for which he was subsequently arrested under the Coercion Act, was afforded any opportunity of giving evidence in his own defence at the Petty Sessions Court; and, if not, whether he will now give the prisoner this opportunity of clearing himself of the charge?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERIn answer to a previous Question put to me on this subject, I stated this was one of the cases in which a person was arrested on suspicion and dismissed, in the belief that it would be impossible to obtain evidence against him owing to the state of the country. He has since been arrested under the Protection Act. In reply to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I have to state that it is not the intention of the Government to treat this prisoner differently to other pri- 756 soners. He will be treated under precisely the same rules as other prisoners confined under the same Act.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERLike other prisoners confined under this Act, he will have an opportunity at the end of three months of having his case considered.
§ MR. HEALYalso asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in laying upon the Table of the House the statutable particulars as to the men arrested under the Coercion Act, he will cause to be added thereto a statement showing how many of the prisoners are town councillors, poor law guardians, and students of the learned professions, with the walk or condition in life in each case, and, if farmers, how many acres of land they hold?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI do not think it my duty to add to the Returns anything beyond that which is set forth in the Act which has been passed.