§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 755 Is it a fact that the emergency or property defence men, tried for "moonlighting" on the 23rd October at Murroe, were discharged, though three respectable witnesses fully identified them, and positively swore they were the men who with blackened faces demanded money and arms from them on the night of the 10th October; whether the only evidence to rebut this was that given by other emergency men, comrades of the prisoners; whether one of the accused, named Parker, is the individual a short time since charged with deliberately firing on some children in Cappamore, and who still more recently underwent a month's imprisonment for assaulting the police, and whether he had been only a few days out of gaol; and, whether the Government will allow such persons to carry firearms?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I have read the papers in this case with great attention, and I consider it my duty to refer them to the Attorney General for his advice upon the subject. I shall see that the matter is brought before the notice of the licensing officer, who will decide whether this is a proper person to be trusted with a licence for firearms.
§ MR. HEALYsaid, he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would give a specific reply to the latter part of his Question.
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, he did not think that it would be right to answer fully the Question of the hon. Member at the present time. On a future day the hon. Member might, if he should think fit, repeat his inquiry.