§ MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Edward O'Reilly, Petty Sessions Clerk, of Ballaghadereen, County Mayo, has been in the habit of lodging with the local police since last November periodical allegations that outrages have been committed at or near his abode, such alleged outrages ranging from injury to fences to the injury of cattle; whether, in consequence of these alleged outrages, O'Reilly made a claim for compensation, which was to have been urged at the last two Presentment Sessions of the district; whether it is known that the ratepayers of the district were compelled to go to expense and trouble in making preparations to resist this claim, and that, although two Presentment Sessions have passed, O'Reilly has made no effort to sustain his charges; whether inquiries will be made to discover if the claim has been dropped altogether; and, whether O'Reilly has been reprimanded by the Registrar or Petty Sessions Clerks; and, 1850 if so, will the Government consider whether, under the circumstances, he is a fitting person to hold the office he now occupies?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, the Inspector General of Constabulary reported that in November last the tails of two of Mr. O'Reilly's cows were cut off and a large quantity of his turf scattered about. In February last a cow belonging to another man was killed. About five months ago Mr. O'Reilly complained of his fences having been thrown down, and he did swear information for the purpose of seeking compensation. Some ratepayers did complain that they were put to expense in preparing to resist this claim. Mr. O'Reilly had decided not further to pursue the case.