§ MR. HARRINGTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that at the Castlebar Petty Sessions on January 2nd the magistrates sentenced to seven days imprisonment a child named Anne Burke 428 for being found in a house from which her mother had been evicted; whether it is true that this child is only three years of age; whether, at the Petty Sessions held in the same place on January 23rd, Mary Burke, the mother of this girl, with Thomas and Catherine Burke, her children, were also fined for the same offence ten shillings, or in default a week's imprisonment with hard labour; whether it was legal to impose hard labour for such an offence; and, whether this sentence against the child of three years old will be carried out?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, this was a private prosecution for trespass. The case of Anne Burke was heard in her absence, as she did not appear in Court, and the magistrates, when passing sentence, were not aware of her ago. When informed of the fact, they at once directed that the warrant should not be executed. I am making further inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining how it happened that so young a child was summoned and who is responsible for such an occurrence. The case against the other members of the family was decided as stated. As regards the legality of the sentence that is a question of law as to which it is no part of my duty to express any opinion.
§ MR. HARRINGTONgave Notice of further Questions on the subject.