§ MR. SHEEHY (Galway, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether two men, named George Gibbs and Patrick Mullens, were prosecuted at the Gort Petty Sessions on the 31st October last, for an assault on two men named Claran and Linskey; whether Gibbs was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, and Mullens to 14 days; whether Gibbs's solicitor applied to the Bench to have one day added to Gibbs's sentence, to give him power to appeal, which was refused; whether Gibbs only learned when he was lodged in gaol that his term was to be two months; whether Gibbs, in carrying with another prisoner a barrow of coal, slipped and fell under the coal he was carrying, and broke his leg; whether when discharged from the prison, Gibbs still suffering from his leg, was with two securities summoned, he being under a rule of bail, and his recognizances estreated, he being fined £2, and his sureties £1 each; and, whether, having regard to all the circumstances, some compensation will be made to him for the injury he received in the prison; or, at least, will the fines be remitted?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne), in reply, said, the assaults committed in this instance appeared to be entirely unprovoked; and the Bench, in the exercise of their discretion, sentenced Mullens to 14 days' imprisonment, and Gibbs, who committed two assaults and had been bound to the peace previously, to two months' imprisonment with hard labour, being a month for each assault. Gibbs sprained his ankle in prison; but the medical officer stated that he was nearly all right when he was released. The magistrates estreated his recognizances, but, in consideration of the injury he received, reduced the amount from £10 19 and £5 to £2 and £1. The case did not appear to call for further consideration.