§ CAPTAIN M'CALMONT (Antrim, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a young man, named Patrick Devany, residing at Rosscahill, near Oughterard, county Galway, is boycotted on account of his father having taken some three acres of land, from which the previous tenant had been evicted, in consequence of his not having paid any rent for six years; whether Devany was ordered by the parish priest, Father Coyne, to leave the chapel in consequence on March 24th last; whether this reverend gentleman is President of the local branch of the National League; whether this is the same Father Coyne who denounced the local landlord, Mr. Martin, of Ross, from the altar a few years since with the result that a police hut had forthwith to be erected for the protection of the bailiff and steward; and, whether the refusal to give Devany employment under the Government relief works was in any way to be attributed to the action of Father Coyne and the National League?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)Sir, the facts are substantially as stated as regards Patrick Devany, who was partially "Boycotted" for the reason that 207 his father took a farm from which the previous tenant had been evicted owing three years' rent. On the occasion when Devany was asked to leave the chapel the congregation had all previously gone out. The erection of the police hut at Ross was in consequence of the posting of a threatening notice to Mr. Martin. The refusal to give Devany employment appears to have been the act of the overseer. No evidence of an illegal act towards Devany, so far as the Government know, has been disclosed.