HC Deb 03 May 1881 vol 260 cc1658-60
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the coroner's jury empanelled at Clogher, county Sligo, to inquire into the cause of the deaths of Joseph Corcoran and Brian Flannery, tenant farmers, have returned a verdict of "wilful murder" against certain members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and a process-server named James Broder; whether the circumstances under which Joseph Corcoran and Brian Flannery lost their lives arose out of the fact that the process-server Broder, after having desisted from an attempt to serve processes of ejectment, in consequence of the attitude of the population, returned to the scene, after an interval of a day, for the purpose of executing his function, accompanied only by four members of the police force; whether Broder and the policemen, unauthorised by a magistrate or superior officer, and without receiving any adequate provocation, or giving any proper warning, fired upon men, women, and children, dangerously wounding a number of persons, and killing the two men Corcoran and Flannery; whether the officer of police examined at the inquest refused to produce the rules drawn up for the guidance of the police in case of hostile contact with the people; whether the Government still regard the use of buckshot as humane, seeing that in every case in which it has been used the consequence has been loss of life; and, whether the Government propose to take any steps in consequence of the evidence produced before the coroner and the verdict delivered by the jury?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

The hon. Member asks six Questions, which I will answer. The Coroner's Jury at Clogher did return a verdict of "wilful murder" against certain members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and a process-server. I have already explained to the hon. Member the cause of the small force of police which accompanied Broder. He met the police whilst proceeding along the road, and when still somewhat distant from the place where the processes were to be served, and where a sufficient force of police was assembled, and he asked the police to accompany him there. The circumstances under which the men Corcoran and Flannery lost their lives were not as suggested in the Question, the fact being that the police and the process-server were savagely attacked by a numerous mob without the smallest provocation. Constable Hayes was badly beaten, his life being despaired of; Armstrong was fatally injured. With regard to the police, they were fully justified in acting as they did under the circumstances. I understand the officer of police refused to produce the rules referred to; and, as these are confidential, he was justified in his refusal. As regards the fifth Question, I am still of opinion that it would be dangerous to resort to the use of bullets in collisions with the people, on account of the danger of persons not connected with the fray being killed. With regard to the last part of the Question, the course of the law will be followed in this as on all other occasions when a Coroner's Jury has returned a verdict of "wilful murder." I need not inform the House that the verdict of a Coroner's Jury is not a final verdict, but leads to a committal of the person against whom it is found just as a Magistrate's order does. The proceedings will be laid before the Attorney General for Ireland in the ordinary way for his direction.

MR. CALLAN

Is it the fact that a Coroner's Jury gives a verdict which has no more effect than a Magistrate's decision?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

It is followed by a trial to ascertain whether the person is guilty or not.

MR. SEXTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman adhere to the use of buckshot as being the more humane practice?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Nothing can be more inhumane than to use bullets, which might cause the death of persons not engaged in the affray.

MR. HEALY

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a person totally unconnected with the affair was badly wounded by a discharge of buckshot?

[No reply was given.]