§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that, on 9th August last, Owen M'Govern, caretaker on Commis Mountain, near Swanlinbar, fired a revolver at a man named Maguire; and, whether M'Govern had any licence to carry arms; and, if not, will he order a prosecution?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am informed that Owen M'Govern, a gamekeeper, chased a man named Maguire, whom he saw poaching on his employer's property. After he had given up the pursuit, and when Maguire was out of sight, M'Govern fired one or two shots in the air to let him, and some other men who were about, know that he was armed. There is no foundation for the statement that he fired at Maguire, nor did Maguire ever make any complaint of the kind. M'Govern had a licence under the Peace Preservation Act; but his Inland Revenue licence had expired a few days previously to this occurrence. The matter is before the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in connection with his application for a renewal of his licence. It is for them to decide whether there is ground for a prosecution.