§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the arrests of several respectable farmers in the vicinity of Miltown Malbay; if they have been charged with conspiracy to murder; if it is true that no outrage has occurred in the district for upwards of twelve months; if it is a fact that four men were first arrested and examined at the police barrack with a view to extract information from them respecting the alleged conspiracy; whether failing this they were discharged and arrested again the same night and conveyed to Ennis Gaol; if they have been kept there since Thursday April 19th, by order of Mr. Clifford Lloyd, special resident magistrate, without permission to see any of their friends; if one of them, Francis Egan, was kept separate from the others, and then sent home under police protection; and if such was intended to convey that Mr. Egan had become an approver; if he has since been followed everywhere he goes even into church by policemen; if it is a fact that Mr. Clifford Lloyd has informed Egan that he will prosecute him until he consents to give information; if Mr. Egan has repeatedly and emphatically declared that he has no information to communicate; and, whether, since no evidence whatever can be procured to prove the complicity of any of the men arrested in conspiracy, Her Majesty's Government will order their immediate discharge from custody?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, there is strong reason to believe that a widespread conspiracy, from which atrocious murders and many other crimes of violence have sprung, has for some time existed in the county of Clare, and the authorities are engaged, with good hope of success, in endeavouring to bring to light and suppress that conspiracy by the exercise of the powers specially conferred on them for such purpose by the Prevention of Crime Act. A number of persons have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder and treason-felony. The cases against them are pending, and I must decline to make any statement as to the evidence which has been or may be produced before the 1426 magistrates. With regard, however, to the several allegations made in this Question, I may state that it is not the fact that there has been no outrage in the Miltown Malbay district for upwards of 12 months; though even if it were that would be no reason why efforts should not be made to discover the perpetrators of crimes of violence which occurred more than 12 months ago. The allegation as to the preliminary arrest of four men is incorrect. An inquiry was held under the Crimes Act, and, of the persons then examined, some were on the next day arrested, and have not since been discharged. They are allowed to see their solicitors, but not the general public. The statements as to Francis Egan are quite inaccurate. He had given evidence, and was protected by the police. On a subsequent occasion, he refused to be sworn, and was committed to prison. The Government has certainly no intention of interfering to procure the immediate discharge of the prisoners.
§ MR. KENNYMight I ask the Chief Secretary, what protection there is for men like Francis Egan, who are examined before secret tribunals, that the evidence, which is taken down by the Resident Magistrate, or whoever else may preside, is not deliberately cooked, and what evidence there is to show that Egan gave any information whatever; and in support of that fact—[Cries of "Order!"]—is it not true that Egan refused to be sworn, and that up to the present time the public mind is entirely unsatisfied that Egan made any such admissions as are imputed to him? [Cries of "Order?"]
§ MR. O'DONNELLI wish to ask the Chief Secretary, also, if it is the case that all those arrest smade in Miltown Malbay were on the alleged statements of a convict under sentence of penal servitude for life, and whether Captain Clifford Lloyd, R.M., has held out hopes to this life-convict of release from his punishment if ho gives satisfactory information against a sufficient number of suspected criminals; and I ask the Government what guarantees there are in the case of convicts like him who give evidence in the hope of release?
§ MR. HARRINGTONBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers that Question, may I ask if similar overtures have not been made to a prisoner named 1427 Michael Walsh, who is at present in Mountjoy convict prison also under a life sentence, and if he has not been offered his pardon on condition of giving information?
§ MR. KENNYMay I ask the Chief Secretary—[Cries of "Order!"]—if under this committal to prison Egan has been committed to prison.
§ [No answer was given to these Questions.]
§ MR. PARNELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, under whose authority the untried prisoners mentioned in the Question of the hon. Member for Ennis (Mr. Kenny) are deprived of the right of receiving visitors guaranteed to them by the Prison's Act of 1877 and by the Prison Rules which were framed by the late Lord Lieutenant of Ireland?
§ MR. TREVELYANThat question was raised in debate and discussed at some considerable length with regard to prisoners now being tried at Kilmainham. The Government on that occasion acted under the advice of the Law Officers, and satisfied themselves that they had power to act as they have done.
§ MR. PARNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table of the House the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown in Ireland stating that the Government of Ireland have a right to break the law of the land?
§ [No reply was given.]
§ MR. KENNYI wish to give Notice that, in consequence of the very unsatisfactory answer which I have received, I shall repeat the Question, with additions to it.