§ SIR EARDLEY WILMOTIn the absence of the Chief Secretary for Ireland, I wish to ask the Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether there is any truth in the statement in to-day's Morning Post that Mr. P. B. Smythe, who is known to and greatly esteemed by many in this House, was shot at yesterday in County Westmeath while returning from church, and that, although the shot did not take effect on himself, a lady in the carriage was seriously wounded?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER)Sir, I regret very much to state that the report is to a great extent true—that the facts are even worse than stated in the papers. A shot was fired at Mr. Smythe's carriage; and I am sorry to add that the lady who was stated to have been wounded was unfortunately shot dead upon the spot.