§ MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that on Wednesday the 12th instant a large number of persons applied for relief at the Longford Workhouse, stating that they had been evicted from the estate of Lord Granard; whether the spokesman of the applicants was a young man named Fury, who had been imprisoned as a suspect, and was but lately released; whether Fury stated that his father, one of the evicted, was eighty years of age, 1569 and complained that they were all in great distress; whether Fury has since been re-arrested; and, whether he can state the reasons for his re-arrest?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, it is the fact, as stated in the Question of the hon. Member, that a number of persons on the 12th instant applied at Longford Poor House for relief, stating they had been evicted from their farms on Lord Granard's estate; and their spokesman was a man named Fury, who had not been arrested under the Protection Act, but had been committed for trial for firing into a dwelling-house. He stated that his father was 80 years old and in great distress. The relieving officer visited these persons, and found half of them not destitute, and those whom he considered destitute refused relief in the poor-house. I am informed that these tenants owed from three to four years' rent, and that an offer was made to stop the ejectments on payment of one year's rent and costs. Fury had two holdings; on one, I am informed, four years', and on the other five and a-half years' rent was due. On the 17th of this month James Fury was arrested under the Protection Act on suspicion of posting threatening notices.