§ MR. SHEEHY (Galway, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Dr. D'Alton, of Branmore, was assaulted on Sunday 30th ultimo, by Constable Rooney; whether the police prosecuted Dr. D'Alton; whether the Bench dismissed the case against Dr. D'Alton, the presiding magistrate remarking that the police seemed to have a "set" on Dr. D'Alton; whether Dr. 1736 D'Alton is still under medical treatment, and in very serious danger; and, what action has been taken by the authorities to bring Rooney to justice?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (MR. HOLMES) (Dublin University)There is a mistake as to dates, and there is some confusion as to facts, in the Question of the hon. Member. The police took proceedings against Dr. D'Alton to compel him to find sureties to keep the peace and to recover two penalties for drunkenness on the 4th of August last. The former of these proceedings was dismissed on technical grounds, and one of the latter was dismissed without prejudice and the other adjourned for a fortnight on the application of the defendant; and Mr. Lyster, the Resident Magistrate, stated on that occasion that there seemed to be a set on Dr. D'Alton. This observation appears, however, only to refer to the adjourned case of drunkenness, which seemed to the Magistrate to be trivial in its character. The first part of the Question probably refers to a transaction that occurred on the 28th of August, which is to be investigated at Petty Sessions on the 15th instant, and pending these proceedings it would be inexpedient to make any statement on the subject.