§ MR. O'SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If there is any other charge against Andrew Mortel and Edmond O'Neill (who were arrested under the Lord Lieutenant's warrant at Kilfinane, county Limerick, on the 21st of June), except the fact that they went round the town and collected the sum of three pounds three shillings to pay amount of three fines levied by Mr. Clifford Lloyd on a poor married woman and two other parties in Kilfinane who were accused of obstructing the public thoroughfare in that town; whether he is aware that the persons who subscribed to that fund have written to the public press to show that they gave their subscriptions voluntary; and, under those circumstances, if there is sufficient cause for detaining these two men any longer in prison?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, the only answer he could give to the Question was to read the warrant under which these gentlemen were arrested, and which charged them with intimidating persons in order to compel them to contribute towards the payment of certain penalties imposed upon other persons for the commission of particular offences. All he could state was that the Government were perfectly satisfied that the warrant was correct, so far as they could reasonably form any opinion, and that there had been intimidation.
§ MR. O'SULLIVANasked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the persons from whom the contributions had been received had stated that the contributions were voluntary?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he was not prepared to put that interpretation upon what had occurred.