§ SIR JOHN HAYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether ten police were quartered at Coolenelagh, county Wexford, for the protection of Major Thomas Braddell's property last September; whether a mob came and carried off the crop against the remonstrances of the police and sold for £84 for the benefit of the Land League; whether the police were instructed from Dublin not to resist the robbery for fear of a collision; and, whether, under the circumstances, the Government will pay Major T. Braddell for his loss?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the facts are stated with substantial accuracy in the Question. The Government has no intention of paying anything to Major Braddell for the crops in question. It was more than doubtful whether he was entitled to them, and it was not considered right to prevent their removal. I may observe that in the Court of Appeal in Ireland, in a similar case, two Judges held that, under the 8th section of the Act of 1870, the evicted tenant continues entitled to the crops. Therefore the Government cannot undertake to pay for the loss.