§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it a fact that a poor fisherman named M'Fadden, in the county Donegal, has made several complaints to the Board of Works in Ireland, of the loss of a train of nets caused by stones being left in a fishing pool after the building of Gorthalia Pier, without any redress, and if he has any objection to lay upon the Table a Copy of any Letters received by the Board of Works on the subject, and of any replies given to such Letters; if it be a fact that this poor man has sustained such loss by reason of such works, or of the stones not being properly cleared away; and, if he will be compensated for such loss, or what steps have been taken by the Board of Works in the matter?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, six months after the works at the pier in question were finished, M'Fadden wrote to complain that his nets and those of other fishermen had been injured by stones lying at the bottom of the sea. The matter was then inquired into, and it was found that there were some loose stones in the place indicated, and these were at once removed. It is probable that they had been washed down by recent storms. But if they had been left there when the pier was being built, the fault was M'Fadden's own, as he was left in charge of that part of the works, with special injunctions to leave no rock spoil which could possibly do any damage. M'Fadden did not apply for compensation until April, and the case is not one in which it could be granted. I have examined the Correspondence, and do 386 not think any useful purpose would be served by its presentation to Parliament; but the hon. Member can have access to it if he desires to peruse it.