MR. O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that the six Orangemen charged with having fired out of the Orange Hall at Newry at a National procession, with intent to murder, were brought to trial at the last assizes at Belfast, where the panel is principally composed of Orangemen; whether the jury disagreed, and it was afterwards stated that ten were for acquittal, and two for conviction; and, whether it is a fact that the venue has been again 1080 changed to Belfast; and, if so, for what purpose, or with what hope of conviction?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (MR. WALKER)One of six persons charged with firing with intent to injure out of the Orange Hall at Newry was tried at the Winter Assizes at Belfast. The jury disagreed. I have no authentic information, nor do I consider it right to make inquiries, as to the proportion of jurors for a conviction or an acquittal. The Attorney General has considered it desirable that the cases should not be tried in Down, the locality where they arose, and, after careful inquiry, he has changed the venue to Belfast. He has no reason to believe that a County Antrim jury will not at the next Assizes discharge its duty, or that the panel will be principally composed of Orangemen.
MR. O'BRIENWill the hon. and learned Gentleman say if the jury was not composed of Orangemen? Is it not the fact that at the last Belfast Assizes there were only two Catholics on the whole special jury?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (MR. WALKER),who was almost inaudible in the Gallery, was understood to say that he did not know how many of the jury were Orangemen.
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)said, he had no information on the subject.