§ MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY (Longford, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to a case tried before Mr. Justice Murphy, at the Longford Spring Assizes, in which four men named Farrell, and seven other men, were convicted of a serious assault on James and Christopher Newman, on Sunday the 11th of October last; whether the evidence showed that the assault was premeditated, and whether Dr. Atkinson, who attended the injured men for ten days, stated in court that for two days he considered their lives were in danger; whether the Judge, in passing sentence, commented severely on the deliberate and premeditated nature of the attack, and on the "terrible havoc" made by the prisoners "in the short time availed of in the absence of the Police;" whether the prisoners were sentenced to terms of imprisonment varying from six months to six weeks; whether, in addition to John Farrell, released on his own recognizance on account of alleged ill-health, two others of the prisoners have since been released long before the expiration of their sentences; and, whether he can explain the reason for the release of those men before the time of their sentences had expired?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)in reply, said, that there was undoubtedly a very serious assault committed on the occasion 564 referred to in the Question; but it was equally certain that the defendants acted under circumstances of extreme provocation. The learned Judge who tried the case thought it his duty, in the interests of justice, to make the observations, and to pass the sentence he did. A Memorial was presented subsequently to the Lord Lieutenant on behalf of the prisoners; the case was reviewed, and a reduction of the sentence was ordered. That had been done with the sanction of the learned Judge. It was right to add that it appeared that the prisoners were men of previous good character and were recommended to mercy by the jury who tried the case.
§ MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House who it was signed the Memorial?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYreplied that he could not say.