§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is a fact that one Francis Keane, while a servant in the employment of Mr. Denis Malony, of Quin, in the Tulla Union, county Clare, was arrested as a witness under the Crimes Act, and detained by the police for ten weeks, pending the trial which took place at the recent Ennis Quarter Sessions, where Keane gave evidence; if, immediately he had served their purpose, he was conveyed to the Tulla Workhouse, and admitted by the Master, the police sergeant undertaking to provide the usual ticket of admission; and, if it is a fact that such ticket has not yet been provided; and, as Keane has lost his employment through the action of the police in detaining him, what steps the Government propose to take to relieve the Tulla Union of what threatens to be a permanent burden upon the rates?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, Francis Keane swore an information against two men for assault and compelling him to leave the employment of his master, who was "Boycotted." He was bound over in the usual form to appear against them. On the day of the hearing he did not appear, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested, and then gave his evidence. One of the defendants was fined, and the other committed for trial to Quarter Sessions. Pending the trial Keane was provided, at his own request, with food and lodging by the police. After the disposal of the case at Quarter Sessions, as he could not get employment and was homeless, at his own request he was transferred to the Tulla Workhouse on the 11th of November, and the admission ticket procured by the constable was handed by him to the master of the workhouse on the 13th of November. On the 21st of November he was discharged from the workhouse, and went that night to Feakle Police Barrack, where he now remains under the protection of, the police. The proceedings in the case were not under the Prevention of Crime Act; they were initiated before the Act had passed.