HC Deb 24 March 1882 vol 267 cc1807-8
MR. R. POWER

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If his attention has been called to the charge of Judge Harrison to the Waterford County grand jury, in which he said, I am very happy to be able to tell you, on the occasion of my first visit to your beautiful county, that there is not much business of a criminal nature to come before you; the number of cases in which the Crown will send up bills to you is only six, and they are of a very trivial character. These cases are of an ordinary kind, and such as you must expect in a large community like this; and, why he still considers it necessary to keep so peaceful a county under the provisions of the Coercion Act?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)

Sir, I have seen the report in two newspapers of the learned Judge's charge to the Waterford County Grand Jury. There were only six criminal cases tried. This, however, did not represent the reported but undetected crimes, which included firing into dwellings and maiming of cattle. At present the proscription of the county of Waterford cannot be revoked.