§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he will re-consider the case of the boy James M'Cullagh, who was, at the Pomeroy Sessions on the 13th October last, sentenced to the severe punishment of five years in a reformatory for an assault on another boy?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI find that this boy was, on the 14th of July, 1880, convicted of stealing potatoes, and not imprisoned in consequence of his youth. In April, 1881, he was again convicted on two charges of stealing fowls and stealing boots, and was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment on one charge, and to 14 days' imprisonment and four years in a reformatory on the other. He was subsequently released on licence; and it is to be observed that if he had not been so released the term of is first period of detention in a reformatory would not yet have expired. In October last he committed a wilful and serious assault on a boy who had been a principal witness against him in one of his previous trials, and was relegated to the reformatory for five years, after undergoing 14 days' imprisonment. The manager of the reformatory gives a favourable report of the conduct of the boy, who is now 15 years of age; and, on the whole, I think it would be both for his own interests and those of the public that he should remain where he is for some time longer.
§ MR. DEASYasked, when the Government intended to introduce a measure on the question of reformatories in Ireland?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid, that as the Question did not arise out of his answer, he would be glad if the hon. Member would give Notice.