§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has observed that Captain R. A. Massey, R.M. and Mr. R. Mitchell, R.M. sitting on Friday last, at Guisborough, county Kerry, as a court of special petty sessions, heard a case in which a number of persons were charged, under the Crime Prevention Act, with unlawful assembly and assault on the police, and sentenced, eight men to a month's imprisonment, with hard labour, and three girls of tender years, the daughters of Mr. Lawrence Buckley, described as "a well-to-do farmer and landed proprietor," to a fortnight's imprisonment; whether the scene of the alleged unlawful assembly was a place where the young people of the neighbourhood had long been in the habit of meeting for purposes of recreation; whether the residence of Mr. Buckley, the father of the Misses Buckley, is situated on the side of the road at the very spot in question; and, whether the Government will reverse the sentences in the case; and especially whether they will order the immediate release of the Misses Buckley?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I telegraphed for a report, and I wrote for it two or three days ago. I to-day got a letter from Dublin promising immediate attention. It is a subject which requires very considerable inquiry, and that attention is being paid to it in Dublin.
§ MR. SEXTONI wish to point out to the right hon. Gentleman that those girls have been in gaol almost a week.