HC Deb 18 March 1886 vol 303 cc1180-1
MR. JAMES FLYNN (Cork, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the action of the County of Cork Grand Jury, on 12th instant, in awarding the sum of one thousand pounds to District Inspector Connaughton as compensation for injury sustained by him at Kingwilliamstown on 18th October last; whether he is aware that the assault upon Mr. Connaughton was committed by persons who had been engaged in a drunken row, and that (as appears from the sworn testimony of Serjeant Conderan, Government reporter) the occurrence was strongly denounced by the people at the time, and sternly reprobated by the Rev. Father M'Mahon, parish priest of the district; and, whether, under these circumstances, he will direct the Law Officers of the Crown in Ireland to inquire if the Grand Jury have not exceeded their statutory authority in levying the sum upon the inoffensive taxpayers of the barony of Duhallow, who are already struggling under the burden of heavy rates and taxes?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)

On the occasion in question Inspector Connaughton sustained a fracture of the arm, and he is still unfit for duty. It is a fact that the outrage was denounced by the Rev. Mr. M'Mahon and others at a meeting of the National League held that day. I am advised that the matter of compensation was entirely within the discretion of the Grand Jury, and that it was legally competent for them to act as they did. It is a question whether it would not have been possible to traverse the amount before the Judge of Assizes; but the time for that has now passed.