§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 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 submitted the Papers in this case to the Attorney General, and have been advised by him that the charge against one of these men, Henry Murdy, appears to have been properly dismissed, as there was not sufficient identification; 1181 but in the case of the other two men, Parker and Eakins, he advises that fresh proceedings be taken, and I have given directions accordingly. Parker's arms' licence will be at once revoked, on the recommendation of the licensing officer, who is now also making further inquiry in Eakins's case.