§ MR. BIGGARasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If it is true that Hugh Cunningham, and thirteen other inhabitants, of Castlewellan, in the county of Down, were at Castlewellan Petty Sessions, on the 2nd day of May instant, fined for lighting bonfires in honour of the release of Mr. Parnell on parole; and, if bonfires were lighted on the same places to celebrate the return of Lord Castlereagh at the late election for County Down, and why it was that no prosecution at suit of the police was then instituted?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)Sir, 555 it is a fact that several persons, who are, I understand, inhabitants of Castlewellan, were fined 2s. 6d. a piece under the Summary Jurisdiction Act for lighting bonfires on the public street. I am informed that no bonfires were lighted there on the occasion of the last election. The Constabulary, as was their duty in the case of ordinary offences of this description, undertook the prosecutions on their own responsibility.