§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true, as reported in the Press, that when eight men were brought before Mr. Massey and Mr. Gerald M'Elligott, at Listowel, on Saturday last, charged with moonlighting in the neighbourhood of Castle-island on the 12th instant, the magistrates named declared themselves satisfied that the accused were not moonlighting but were only on their way to a wedding; but that owing to the state of the district they (the magistrates) would bind them over to the peace for 12 months; whether he will state under what statute the magistrates' decision was given; and, whether any appeal lies against this decision in this case?
§ MR. STACK (Kerry, N.)said he wished to supplement the question of his hon. Friend by asking the Chief Secretary whether attendance at a wedding was an offence known to the law?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I am not aware that it is; but weddings are not generally held in the middle of the night. A party of men wearing masks and other disguises were met at night by a police patrol in the Listowel district, where there has been a good deal of moonlighting. The men were arrested and brought before the magistrates, who bound them over to keep the peace. The proceedings were under the Act of Edward III., and no appeal lies against the decision. It is not a fact 576 that the magistrates expressed themselves satisfied that the accused were only on their way to a wedding. I am informed that they expressed no opinion on the subject.