§ MR. SYNANasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether Michael Flahavan and Roger Kelly were summoned to the Glin Petty Sessions on the 24th of July for being drunk and disorderly; whether the summonses issued by the police and charges entered in the Sessions Book were for being drunk and disorderly; whether the police proved the offence in both cases, and whether the police sergeants stated that Kelly was most disorderly as well as drunk; whether Flahavan was fined two shillings and sixpence, and Kelly ten shillings, by Captain Hatchell, R.M.; whether Daniel M'Coy, a member of the late Land League, and of the National League, was sentenced on the same day to a month's imprisonment for the same offence by Captain Hatchell, without the option of a fine, as is usual, and without examining M'Coy's witnesses; whether the answer given on the 4th of August that Flahavan and Kelly were summoned and fined for simple drunkenness is correct; and, whether he will advise the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to commute said imprisonment to a fine or to remit or reduce same under the circumstances?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)The summons and charge entered against Michael Flahavan was for being drunk and dis- 601 orderly. The summons against Roger Kelly was for being drunk. The police proved the offence in both cases. The police sergeant did not state that Kelly was most disorderly as well as drunk. Flahavan was fined 2s. 6d., it being his first offence; Kelly 10s., it being his third offence. Daniel M'Coy was summoned for being drunk and disorderly while in charge of a mule and trap, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment without the option of a fine. The same sentence was imposed upon another person for a like offence in a case immediately preceding. M'Coy did not tender any witness for examination. He had been twice previously convicted of assault, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment in each case, and had been twice previously convicted of drunkenness. It did not in any way appear that he was a member of the Land or National League. It is open to M'Coy to apply to the Lord Lieutenant to commute the sentence, and His Excellency will consider any facts stated.