§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that Mr. Charles Kenny, an Income Tax collector for the City of Dublin, who became landlord of an estate at Inniskeen, County Monaghan, in August, 1888, proceeded, accompanied by four bailiffs, on Wednesday last, to seize the cattle, household effects, and other property of his tenants for one half-year's rent; whether, when seizing the property of Mr. Thomas McKenna, of 802 Moyles, they also took possession of the horse and car of the Rev. Father Maguire, administrator of Inniskeen, who resides at the house of Mr. McKenna, and refused to return same to the Rev. Mr. Maguire, even for the purpose of attending to sick calls and the other important duties of his office, without first obtaining their permission; and, whether, in view of this unusual distraint under an obsolete Statute for a half-year's rent, the presumably illegal seizure of the Rev. Father Maguire's property by this public official, Mr. Charles Kenny, the aggravation of public feeling in the district, and the danger of disturbance of the public peace which may possibly arise from the interference with a Roman Catholic minister of religion in the discharge of his sacred functions by the seizure and retention of his horse and car, the Government propose to take any, and what, steps in the matter?
THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN)(who replied) said (Dublin University)I have no knowledge of the matters referred to in the Question; but, for the information of the hon. Member, I may say that if Mr. Kenny acted as is stated, he apparently did so in the exercise of a private right; and, if there was anything illegal in bisection, there is, of course, a remedy for the person aggrieved.