HC Deb 18 February 1884 vol 284 cc1193-4
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has received any Report from the Resident Magistrates at Enniskillen as to the recent trials of rioters there; whether he will read it to the House; whether the Government are satisfied with the administration of justice by the Enniskillen Bench; and whether it is the fact that every Catholic rioter was convicted, and every Orange rioter acquitted?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, it is not usual to produce or lay before Parliament the Reports of Resident Magistrates. It is only done for very special reasons, and I am not prepared to say that they exist in this case. Besides, it is a sort of Report which, out of feeling for Captain M'Ternan, a gentleman for whom I have a great respect, although I know him only officially, I would be very unwilling to produce; because, whatever its nature may be, it is not a very desirable thing to make public the Report of one magistrate criticizing others. With regard to the Enniskillen Bench, there is nothing in the face of the decisions given by the magistrates in the cases referred to, which, in the opinion of the Government, would justify a reference to the Lord Chancellor, without which no expression of opinion can be given. It is not the fact that in the cases before that Bench arising out of the recent riots every Catholic was convicted and every Orangeman acquitted. Of the Roman Catholics charged, three were sent to prison for assaults. A similar charge against a Protestant was dismissed. Two Protestants were fined for being drunk and disorderly and cursing the Pope. Two cases against Protestants for window-breaking were marked "no rule," several cases against parties on both sides for aiding and abetting in assaults were withdrawn or not pressed by the Constabulary. Two cases against Catholics for window-breaking were not pressed. A Protestant was discharged with a caution for igniting explosives in the street.

MR. HEALY

The right hon. Gentleman has not stated whether the Government are satisfied with the administration of justice by the Enniskillen Bench?

VISCOUNT CRICHTON

Would the right hon. Gentleman state the number of Protestants and Roman Catholics who were summoned?

MR. TREVELYAN

I will state that on another occasion.