HC Deb 05 May 1884 vol 287 cc1304-5
MR. KENNY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If certain information has been conveyed to the Irish Government concerning the conviction of two brothers name Delahunty, who were sentenced, at the Cork Winter Assizes of 1882, to penal servitude for life, for the alleged crime of firing into the house of a person named Donnellan, near Feakle, county Clare; if the chief witness for the Crown (Slattery) has since made a dying declaration, in which it is set forth that these men have been wrongfully convicted, and prays for their release; if he will give the full terms of the said declaration, and if the case of the Delahuntys has been, or is under, the consideration of the Irish Government; and, if he can state either the result of such consideration, or the probable date at which it will be made known?

MR. TREVELYAN

The evidence against the Delahuntys was comple and conclusive. The man Slattery, referred to in the Question, was not the chief witness for the Crown, and was not a witness in the case at all, nor is it a fact that he made a declaration that the Delahuntys were wrongfully convicted. What he stated in the declaration was that a witness was instigated by him to swear he saw the shot fired; and he further alleges that the police constable asked him to get a person to swear that he heard the shot fired. The evidence of Martin was unimportant; and the case was complete without him. The Government believe that no reliance is to be placed on Slattery's declaration, and do not, therefore, intend to interfere with the course of the law. As regards the declaration itself, I will furnish the hon. Member with a copy of it if he so desires; but I do not consider it necessary to lay it on the Table of the House.

MR. KENNY

I would wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, if this declaration does not also contain a statement to the effect that the case was concocted by a police constable, named Halloran, and a Resident Magistrate, Mr. Burke, who has since been dismissed?

MR. TREVELYAN

The hon. Member will, perhaps, give Notice of the Question.