HC Deb 22 September 1886 vol 309 cc1252-3
MR. STACK (Kerry, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether a man named Cronin is now undergoing a term of ten years' penal servitude for alleged moonlighting in Duagh, county Kerry; was he convicted on the uncorroborated evidence of a woman of known bad character; whether the witnesses for the defence were men of unimpeachable reputations; whether several years of his sentence have already expired; whether several others who were convicted and sentenced with him are now at large; whether a Memorial signed by the resident magistrate and most of the grand jurors of the county was forwarded to Lord Aberdeen, praying for his release; and, whether, under the circumstances, he will advise the Lord Lieutenant to set Cronin free?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)

, in reply, said, it was true that a man named Cronin was now undergoing a sentence of 10 years' penal servitude for the offence mentioned. He was not convicted on uncorroborated evidence. He was not aware that the witnesses for the defence were men of unimpeachable reputation. Several years of his sentence had now expired. Others who were convicted at the same time, but not equally guilty, had been released. A Memorial was forwarded to the late Lord Lieutenant, and had been considered, and it had been decided that the law should take its course. He wished to state that the Lord Lieutenant only had power to exercise the Prerogative of the Crown in Ireland, and it had never been the duty of the Chief Secretary to exercise it. If necessary, of course, he would advise with His Excellency on the subject.

MR. SEXTON (Belfast W., and Sligo, S.)

asked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the Judge who imposed this heavy sentence of 10 years declared that he did so for the purpose of deterring others, and that he hoped afterwards to be able to advise a remission of the sentence, and if the Memorial which was presented to Lord Aberdeen when he was leaving Ireland was signed by Justices of the Peace and many influential inhabitants of the district; and whether, in the extraordinary circumstances of the case, the right hon. Gentleman would advise the Lord Lieutenant to consider the Memorial?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

said, he could not answer the Question without Notice.