HC Deb 16 August 1883 vol 283 cc735-8
MR. O'BRIEN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Plunkett, special resident magistrate, has addressed the following letter, dated 30th July, to the Reverend Father Ahern, P.P., Killavullen:— Dear Sir,—I have received your letter. I hope that the necessary amount may he raised in order that Hallissey may he in a position to emigrate, as I understand he is anxious to do so. If this is done I shall recommend His Excellency to remove the proclamation and thus relieve the parish of the Police Tax. But, as long as the authorities consider that protection is necessary for him, the police will remain at the expense of the parish. Should you he able to get the necessary amount in a few days, I will use my influence to have as much as possible arrears, for which warrants will shortly issue, struck off, but this will not be able to he done after warrants issue; whether the letter refers to a proposal that the ratepayers should raise a sum of £50 to induce Hallissey, for whose protection the extra police are maintained, to leave the country; whether the following paragraph, in a letter addressed to Mr. George C. Foott, J.P., dated "Chief Secretary's Office, Dublin Castle, 7th August," and signed "Samuel Lee Anderson," refers to the same proposal:— I am to add that His Excellency understands that arrangements are now in progress by which the necessity for the protection of Hallissey will cease, and on learning that such arrangements have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, His Excellency will direct the withdrawal of the additional police; whether Samuel Leo Anderson is an official of the Chief Secretary's office; and, if not, in what capacity does he sign the communication; under what statute a resident magistrate is empowered to make an offer of the nature referred to; and, whether this proceeding has the approval of the Government?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, as Captain Plunkett has been on leave for the past few days and moving about, I have been unable to communicate directly with him, or ascertain whether his letter is correctly quoted from in the Question; but, assuming it to be so, I think it must be quite clear to anyone reading the letter that it referred to a matter which was already before the Rev. Mr. Ahern, and did not contain any original proposal or offer. Captain Plunkett thinks that Hallissey is still in danger, and that the police are required for his protection; and I see nothing in the nature of a threat or intimidation in his letting the people know that he will use his influence to have the police removed in the event of their carrying out the idea which has been started in the parish of securing the emigration of Hallissey. The hon. Member must bear in mind that I do not pledge myself that the original communication was made by Captain Plunkett. With regard to Mr. Anderson, he is temporarily employed in the Chief Secretary's Office assisting Mr. Jenkinson, for whom, and in whose absence, he signed the letter quoted from by his Excellency's desire. The procedure has the approval of the Government.

MR. O'BRIEN

said, the right hon. Gentleman had not told them under what Statute a Resident Magistrate was empowered to make an offer of the nature referred to in the Question.

MR. TREVELYAN

It is not a question of Statute. Here is a man who is receiving police protection under the idea that his life is in danger; and the Resident Magistrate, in communication with the parish priest who is interested in the matter, states that if the man is got out of the country it is probable the police will be removed.

MR. O'BRIEN

That is a threat to the people if the money is not raised. I want to know on what principle of law or justice the right hon. Gentleman allows young men in Loughrea to be threatened with arrest if they raise a subscription to defend a man whom the law presumes to be innocent——

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman is entering into debatable matter.

MR. HEALY

Not at all.

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is entering into debatable matter, and he cannot do so in the form of a Question.

SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT

I rise to Order. I distinctly heard the hon. Gentleman the Member for Monaghan (Mr. Healy) say to his hon. Friend on the other side of him—"Go on, Sir."

MR. HEALY

No; I did not.

SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT

Yes; you did.

MR. HEALY

If I said anything of the kind, I will stick to it; but I beg to say that if that remark was used on these Benches, I did not hear it, and I did not make it.

MR. O'BRIEN

I beg to give Notice that I will take the first opportunity of asking why pains and penalties are being inflicted on men in Ireland for doing a certain thing, while Resident Magistrates are at perfect liberty to do it?

MR. O'KELLY

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not evident that a species of blackmail is being permitted by the Government in this matter? ["Order, order!"]

MR. SPEAKER

After the notice taken of the previous Question, the Question now put is highly irregular.

MR. O'KELLY

Then I beg to give Notice that I will raise the question on the Estimates.