§ MR. DALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the prosecution by the police, at Millstreet, county Cork, of Daniel O'Sullivan the younger, aged nine or ten years, who appeared before the magistrates crying, and who was prosecuted by the Queen at the suit of head constable Spencer, under the Whiteboy Act, for having, on the 22nd instant, at two o'clock in the day, attempted, by carrying a lighted torch in the public streets of Millstreet,—
To promote a certain unlawful assembly, contrary to the statute made and provided, and against the peace of our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her Crown and Dignity;whether, on the occasion referred to, the child's offence did not consist in his heading a procession of young fellows who were after tilling the farm for a woman whose husband had died, and that, on being spoken to, the child stated that he did not know he was doing anything wrong, and went away when he was told; and, whether he will direct an inquiry into the circumstances attending this prosecution?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI have received a Report on this subject, and it appears that the youth Daniel O'Sullivan was the leader of a party of boys from 12 to 17 years of age, he himself being about 12. About 30 boys assembled and went in procession through Mill-street. On being stopped they dispersed. They re-assembled at the instigation of grown-up persons. The case has been adjourned by the magis- 1544 trates until the 19th instant; and, pending their decision, I do not intend to take any further steps in the matter. There was much more probability of disturbance than would appear from the Question. There was a great deal of excitement in the place.