§ MR. CALLANasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether he will have any objection to give a Return in detail of the number and the names, specifying their condition in life, whether Members of Parliament, High Sheriffs, or Members of Municipal Bodies, and length of detention of the "Suspects" imprisoned under warrants signed or issued with the sanction of the Ex-Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Right honourable William Edward Forster, under the provisions of the Coercion Acts, as being "reasonably suspected," on information supplied to him by or at the suggestion of the late Detective Director and County Inspector, Mr. French; whether the said Mr. French, on the platform of one of the stations of the Midland Great Western Railway, publicly stated that he would have Mr. Tinte, Chairman of the Mullingar Town Commissioners, arrested within three days; and, whether it is a fact that Mr. Tinte was re-arrested within the aforesaid three days, on a warrant signed by the late Chief Secre- 437 tary to the Lord Lieutenant, the Right honourable W. E. Forster, M.P.?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)On principle, the Government would object to give any such Return as is asked for. But in this instance, and without making a precedent, I can inform the hon. Member that no person whatever was in prison or detained as a suspect on information supplied by, or at the suggestion of, Mr. French. The Government are not aware, and never heard that Mr. French made the statement attributed to him in the second part of the Question. Consequently, I cannot state whether the warrant bore date three days after.