HC Deb 18 February 1884 vol 284 cc1173-4
MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What steps were taken by the police to prosecute the assailants of the representative of The Monaghan Advocate at Ross-lea on 16th October; whether it is the fact that Constable Wallace and two other policemen were standing near when the outrage was committed; why no arrests were made; whether Lord Ross-more and Mr. Lloyd, J.P., Clerk of the Peace, were close by and witnessed the assault; whether the police endeavoured to get from either of them the names of the criminals (supposing them to have been unknown to themselves); whether the police waited on Mr. M'Aleese, senior, and asked him would he prosecute, and that he replied this was their duty and not his, and that he could not identify his son's assailants; whether it is the usual practice of the police to endeavour to get private prosecutors under such circumstances, or to proceed themselves; and, whether, if the police allege that they cannot identify the guilty parties, an inquiry under the Crimes Act will be held; and, if not, what is the reason?

MR. TREVELYAN

, in reply, said, that the moment Mr. M'Aleese was assaulted two constables rushed to his rescue, and saved him from the crowd, which consisted of a procession of 3,000 or 4,000 Orangemen. The constables could not identify any of the persons who struck Mr. M'Aleese, and nothing was known to them of the fact that Lord Rossmore or Mr. Lloyd were witnesses of the assault. He could not ascertain that any policeman waited on Mr. M'Aleese and asked him to prosecute. He might say that he was extremely anxious that there should be a prosecution, and he over and over again wrote to that effect, but the evidence was not forthcoming. He did not think the case was one calling for inquiry under the Prevention of Crime (Ireland) Act.

MR. HEALY

I may say that I have Mr. M'Aleese's word that the police came to him and asked him to prosecute, and that he told the police that it was their duty to do so.

MR. TREVELYAN

There may be a difference of recollection in that respect; but I may tell the hon. Member that I used my best endeavour to get up a prosecution, but the means were not forthcoming.