HC Deb 20 April 1888 vol 325 cc27-9
MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the sentences on Father M'Fadden and the hon. Member for South Armagh (Mr. Blane) have been increased on appeal from three months and four months respectively to six months; whether any additional evidence was adduced on the appeal to justify an increase of the sentence appealed against; and, who was the County Court Judge before whom the cases were tried.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I am not aware whether or not any fresh evidence was produced; but, in any case, the County Court Judge may have thought that the Resident Magistrates took too lenient a view of the offence committed by these persons. As the hon. Gentleman is aware an appeal is not given for the purpose of having the sentences inflicted by the inferior Court diminished, but for having them revised.

MR. JAMES STUART

Have any sentences been increased on appeal until within the past week?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. Gentleman must give Notice of that Question.

MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)

Arising out of this Question, Sir, I desire to ask the Chief Secretary, Whether he has seen a report of the proceedings at Ennis yesterday, when the sentences upon William Hynes, Patrick Collins, and Joseph O'Brien were increased from three to six months; and, whether it is by any common plan or instructions from Dublin Castle that such sentences are being increased?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Question is out of Order in itself, and ought to have been given Notice of and put upon the Paper. Then it would have been submitted to me.

MR. M. HARRIS (Galway, E.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he is aware that James Kilmartin and T. M. Coffey have also had their sentences increased?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I believe there have been several cases in which the sentences have been increased.

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

By what licence or authority are the Irish Judges permitted or authorized to abuse the political opponents of—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. CONYBEARE

Of the Chief Secretary.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That Question also is very improper. If it had been handed in I should have disallowed its being put upon the Paper.

MR. JAMES STUART

The right hon. Gentleman did not answer the last part of my Question.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Dr. Webb.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

>: May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman the Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether in several cases under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act in which appeals were taken the sentences passed by the Resident Magistrates have been reduced?

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin University)

Yes, Sir.