HC Deb 06 December 1888 vol 331 cc1240-2
MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON Kerry, W.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Mr. Michael Healy and Mr. James O'Leary, of Killarney, when engaged recently in collecting facts about the Kenmare Estate, bearing on the evidence of Mr. Leonard before the Royal Commission, were followed by, interfered with, and finally arrested by the police; and, whether the notes they had made of the facts collected were seized and kept from them even when they were released; and, whether he will take steps to prevent police interference with persons engaged in collecting evidence material to the issues raised before the Royal Commission Court and useful to the Members of this House against whom accusations are made?

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

As I stated in reply to a Question put two days ago on this subject by the hon. Member for North Cork (Mr. Flynn), the persons referred to were arrested on a warrant, the first-named for obstructing and assaulting the police, and the second-named for inciting thereto. Some documents were found upon the persons referred to when arrested. One of these was a letter of an incriminatory character, and cannot be returned. Any other documents not incriminatory are being returned.

MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON

I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give us a guarantee that those who are making such inquiries for the purpose of meeting the accusations made against the Irish Members will not be interfered with when they are in pursuit of these inquiries?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Of course, nobody will be interfered with. On the contrary, I should be glad to aid them.

MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that these men did anything else than make inquiries for the purpose of elucidating matters referred to by Mr. Leonard in the Parnell Commission?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I understand that they were arrested for obstructing and assaulting the police.

MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON

Does it mean that the moment these persons left Killarney to verify the statements made by Mr. Leonard before the Commission they were followed into every house by policemen, who interposed themselves between these persons and the tenants of whom they wished to make inquiries; and that it was only in what I may characterize as just indignation that they eventually pushed the police out of the house where they were making these inquiries?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

If the hon. Gentleman wants any further information he must give Notice; but, certainly, these men were not interfered with by the police as far as their object was to investigate matters of fact.

MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON

Did not the police dog them from house to house while they were pursuing these investigations? And I would ask whether, in view of the statement by the First Lord of the Treasury that Irish officials are disposed to accord equal facilities to us with those which they afford to our accusers, is it right for the police to thus interfere with men who are endeavouring to ascertain the truth?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. Member is rather begging the question. He is assuming that the police did interfere with an investigation which these men were making bonâ fide. That allegation I do not admit; but if the hon. Gentleman wishes for further detail, I am not able to give it without further Notice.

MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON

Does the right hon. Gentleman admit or deny that the police followed these men from Killarney, and then from house to house?

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

Answer, answer!

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. Member is unreasonable. I have given him all the information that I possess. If he wants more he must put a Question on the Paper.