HC Deb 03 April 1882 vol 268 cc540-1
MR. O'SULLIVAN

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether the prisoners convicted of riot at Kilross, at the last Winter Assizes in Kilkenny, and sentenced to four months imprisonment and a fine of£10, or, in default of such payment, two months additional imprisonment, will, if unable to pay this fine, have to commence the additional term of imprisonment, as if it were an entirely different sentence, for a different offence; whether, in fact, they will have to sleep for another month on the plank bed; whether, in the opinion of the Law advisers of the Crown, the sentence passed on these prisoners ought to be treated as one sentence, and not as two consecutive sentences; and, whether several of these prisoners are quite unable to pay this fine; and if, under the circumstances, the Government would consider the propriety of remitting it?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER)

said, in the absence of his right hon. and learned Colleague, that these prisoners would not have to commence an additional term of imprisonment, and, therefore, would not have to sleep another month on plank beds. If they did not pay the fine, there was no reason for interfering with the sentence of the Judge.