§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether lately a special jury of the city and county of Dublin, empanelled under the provisions of the Crime Prevention Act, returned a verdict of "not guilty" in the case of The Queen v. Cornwall, and appended a rider to the effect that they had been obliged to return the verdict in question because the Crown had not brought forward sufficient evidence to justify a conviction; whether the Crown had available evidence against Cornwall which they did not bring forward; if so, why they withheld it from the jury; whether, further, a special jury of the city and county of Dublin, empanelled under the provisions of the Crime Prevention Act, returned a verdict of "not guilty" in the case of The Queen v. Fitzgerald, and appended a declaration that the principal witnesses brought forward by the Crown were unworthy of credence, and that the corroborating evidence was of a complicated and doubtful character; whether the principal witnesses so denounced by the jury were the informers Moran and Delany; whether Moran will be longer retained in the pay of the Government, and whether the Government have resolved not to make use of him or Delany in any future prosecution; and, whether the cases of any persons convicted on their evidence will now be reconsidered?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)The rider that the verdict referred to in the case of "The Queen v. Cornwall" was not in the terms or to the effect mentioned in the first part of the Question. It conveyed no reflection on the prosecution. All available evidence was produced, and no evidence whatever was withheld from the jury. In the case of "The Queen v. Fitzgerald" a verdict of "Not guilty" was returned, the jury in the case considering the corroboration of Moran and Delany insufficient, and declining without more corroboration to act on their testimony. Moran is not in the pay of the Government. No undertaking can be given as to cases that have not arisen. The recent trial furnishes no reason for reconsidering former cases if they existed; but the only case in which Moran was examined was at the trial of Daly 1833 at the Warwick Asssizes, and any Question as regards that trial should be addressed to the Home Secretary.
§ MR. SEXTONI would ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether he has not passed over the portion of the rider which stated that the principal witnesses were "unworthy of credence?"
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IERLAND (Mr. WALKER)I dealt with that in stating that the jury declined to act on their testimony.
MR. O'BRIENCan the hon. and learned Solicitor General for Ireland say whether the Crown had any arrangement with Delany as to his liberty, or as to any reward, and, if so, whether that arrangement will now be carried out, in face of the verdict of the jury?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)No, Sir; they had no such arrangement.