§ MR. MAYNEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether at the petty sessions held at Cappawhite on Friday October 24th, two cases of carrying arms without licence were heard, in one of which, Connors, the defendant, was punished by a fine of five shillings and costs, while in the other case Ryan, the defendant, was awarded a month's imprisonment, although the latter is described in the report of the case as being of deficient intelligence; whether Ryan so described was further sentenced to six months' additional imprisonment for kicking in the leg the policeman who arrested him; whether it is a fact that Connors had 1559 only recently been released from Limerick Gaol after a term of imprisonment; and, whether a remission of the sentence will be granted in Ryan's case?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe two cases were disposed of as stated in the Question. There was nothing before the Court to show that Ryan was of deficient intelligence. Connor's sentence was a light one, because the circumstances of his offence were not serious. Being a caretaker on an evicted farm, he was given a revolver for his protection; but carried it before his licence had been issued. Ryan's case was quite different. He was found carrying a gun without a licence, and, being unknown, he was questioned by the police, and refused to give his name or any information whatever about himself, and violently resisted the policeman who arrested him. The policeman assaulted was so seriously injured that he is still suffering from the effects. Connors was released from Limerick Prison nine months ago, after a term of imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences. In Ryan's case an appeal is pending, so that, in any case, the Lord Lieutenant could not consider an application for remission of sentence, even if it were made to him.