HC Deb 06 December 1888 vol 331 cc1233-4
CAPTAIN M'CALMONT (Antrim, E.)

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to an account of a meeting held at Nurney, County Kildare, in The Freeman's Journal of November 12, in which the hon. Member for South Galway (Mr. Sheehy) is reported to have used these words— He would say deliberately that the tenants had a perfect right to poison their lands against vermin; whether, on November 24, nine of the Kildare foxhounds were poisoned on the high road near Sallins, in the same county; and, whether any persons have been made amenable for this offence?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRE-LAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR)(who replied) (Manchester, E.)

, said, the Constabulary authorities report that the facts are substantially as stated in the first two paragraphs. No persons have been made amenable for the offence; but the police are still investigating the matter.

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

asked, Whether the right hon. Gentleman had instructed himself as to the state of the law on the subject?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he had gathered from the Report of the police that an offence had been committed.

MR. SHEEHY (Galway, S.)

asked the right hon. Gentleman, whether his attention had been called to a newspaper account of certain misconduct towards a farmer's wife, a Mrs. O'Neill, by some members of the Hunt?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he had no information on that point.

MR. PINKERTON (Galway)

asked whether it was not the constant practice of farmers in the North of Ireland to poison their lands?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he was not aware of that.

DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

asked, whether it was not a fact that if a man poisoned his lands, and gave the ordinary statutory notice, he was protected by law?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, that, as the hon. Gentleman wished for information on a legal point, he must give Notice of the Question.