§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Maurice Moyniham and Thomas Quinlan, sentenced at Tralee, on Monday, 6th February, to a month's imprisonment for "booing and hissing" at a constable named Clarke; whether Mr. Cecil Roche, R.M., in giving judgment, is correctly reported to have said, "our duty is to stop such insults to officers of the law;" whether, at the trial, any evidence was given of any obstruction offered to Clarke by the accused except such as consisted in the utterance of jeering sounds; and, whether that is the only crime for which they are now in prison?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)Maurice Moyniham and Thomas Quinlan appeared on summons at Tralee Petty Sessions on the 6th of February to show cause why they should not be bound over to their good behaviour for having been guilty of conduct calculated to lead to a breach of the peace. It was proved that when Sergeant Clarke and two constables were proceeding on duty they were met by the two defendants, who followed them for some distance, booing, hissing, and shouting at them. The Resident Magistrate says it is quite true he made the statement quoted in the question. There was no other evidence given, as there was no other charge against the defendants. The defendants were ordered to find bail to be of good behaviour, or in default to be imprisoned for a month. They declined to give the required bail, electing to go to prison.