HC Deb 21 May 1883 vol 279 cc576-7
MR. O'BRIEN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether any undertaking or understanding was come to with Patrick Delaney, one of the murderers of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr. Burke, that his life should be spared in consideration of his pleading guilty; whether any intimation was conveyed to any official of the Crown that he would or could make a statement incriminating Timothy Kelly, in whose case two juries had previously disagreed; and, what was the object of producing in court, during the third trial of Kelly, this man Delaney?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER)

Sir, I have been asked to answer this Question for my right hon. Friend. There is no foundation whatever for the offensive insinuations contained in it. Patrick Delaney, who recently pleaded guilty to the charge of murder, had practically admitted his guilt before the magistrates; and, after his committal, he repeatedly volunteeered full and detailed statements of all the particulars of the crime, including the part taken in it by Kelly as well as the others, and expressed over and over again his determination to plead guilty, whatever came of it. So far from being induced to take that course, he was warned that he had nothing to look for, and was advised to take his trial. A distinct intimation to that effect was conveyed to his solicitor, who stated in Court that he had given this advice to his client. No undertaking whatever was entered into that his life would be spared. The statement made in Court by him, after pleading guilty, came wholly from himself, and the officials of the Crown were not aware that he intended making it. Delaney was brought into Court to be identified.

MR. O'DONNELL

said, he wished to know, whether it was a fact that although Delaney was told he could expect no- thing, yet his sentence of death was commuted?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER)

I am not in a position to say whether that is so or not.

MR. HARRINGTON

said, he would ask whether it was not true that, after two juries had disagreed in the case of Timothy Kelly, Patrick Delaney was brought on the table to be identified by a witness who was in the Park at the time of the murder?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER),

in reply, said, he had already stated that he was produced in Court for the purpose of identification, but the witness failed to identify him.