§ MR. KENNYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the decision of the County Court Judge at Limerick on July 3rd last, in the case of the man Sheehan, sentenced on April 13th 1883 to two months' imprisonment 723 at the instance of a person named M'Grath, in which he reversed the sentence passed by the two special resident magistrates, Messrs. Evanson and Irwan; if the original conviction was obtained on the evidence of M'Grath and his employer, a Mr. Millane, and, after a careful sifting of their evidence, has been reversed by the County Court Judge; whether any prosecution for perjury is to be instituted against M'Grath and his accomplices; and, whether any money has been given to them by the Crown for their original testimony in the case, and if he would name the parties to whom such payments were made?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, I do not think this is a matter calling for notice on the part of the Executive. The case was decided by the magistrates on the evidence before them. At the hearing of the appeal some additional witnesses were produced for the defence. The evidence was conflicting, and the County Court Judge gave the accused the benefit of the doubt; but he did not impute perjury to any witness for the Crown. No money was given to the witnesses for their evidence.