HC Deb 29 July 1887 vol 318 cc542-4
MR. MOLLOY (King's Co., Birr)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland) If he will explain the reason for applying to King's County by Proclamation by Lord Lieutenant of the powers of the Coercion Act relating to private inquiries, summary jurisdiction, and special juries, seeing that only four agrarian offences, and no offences of intimidation, in the county are reported by the Inspector General of Con- stabulary in the quarter ending June last; and, whether it is alleged on the part of the Government that evidence has been withhold in any criminal cases in the county, or that jurors have improperly acquitted accused persons in any cases tried in the county?

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN)(who replied) said (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

With regard to King's County, general intimidation prevails. There are 86 persons more or less affected by Boycotting, and several persons under police protection, [Cries of "How many?"]

MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman answer the second paragraph of the Question?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

I have given reasons for the proclamation of the county on the ground that general intimidation prevails; and I have given my reasons in a previous reply for considering that juries should be protected from intimidation.

MR. SEXTON

But, Sir, let me ask if the Government admit that the common juries in the county have not improperly acquitted any persons brought for trial, and have not improperly refused verdicts for conviction, what is the ground and object of taking powers to empannel special juries, and to remove trials out of the county?

MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)

Will the Government lay on the Table of the House such information as may enable Members to judge of the meaning of the phrase "more or less Boycotting" and of "general intimidation?"

MR. R. T. REID&c.) (Dumfries,

I asked a Question of this land before. Having regard to the constant use of the term "general intimidation," of which we find no trace in the Constabulary Reports, will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman inform the House what is the ground for that phrase, and so enable us to judge for ourselves?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

Well, Sir, it would be impossible to go into all the cases of intimidation in the King's County; but I will quote one. On Lady Bury's property, a farm was taken by a man in spite of a threatening notice warning persons not to do so. Subsequently, the man was so intimidated as to be compelled to surrender the farm, which was then offered for sale; but no one dared to take it. Attempts were made to sell the hay; but Boycotting notices were posted up, and no sale took place. Cows were then taken to graze; but the people were compelled to remove them by the action of the League.

MR. SEXTON

I have to ask again, would not the offence described have been adequately dealt with by Section 2, and why, then, does the Proclamation extend to Sections 1, 3, and 4, which have no concern with the subject?

MR. CLANCY

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how the man was intimidated?

[No replies.]