§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the published letter of the noble Marquess the Member for Rossendale (the Marquess of Hartington), stating that it was necessary to take steps to protect Norah Fitzmaurice "from the hostility of the National League;" and, is it the case that this woman lives in Kerry, where the National League was suppressed over six months ago?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)said, before the right hon. Gentleman answered that Question, he wished to ask him whether he had seen a notice in that day's papers announcing that the two men who were condemned for the murder of Fitzmaurice, when being conveyed from the gaol at Wicklow to Tralee, had been received at the platform at the latter place by a crowd who cheered them?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E)I have not seen the report alluded to by my hon. Friend (Mr. T. W. Russell); but I am afraid there is a sympathy with crime in parts of Ireland which makes the report he has just read to the House not improbable. With regard to the Question upon the Paper, I have not seen the particular letter referred to; but I am aware that the vindictive spirit, engendered by the National League in Kerry before its suppression, has not entirely died out of the county, and that the fact that Norah Fitzmaurice gave evidence against the murderers of her father has exposed her to much malevolent persecution.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYasked, whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware how long the vindictive spirit engendered by the suppression of the National League was likely to last before it was a thing of tile past?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir; but it largely depends upon the presence of the friends of the hon. and learned Gentleman.