§ MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.) (for Mr. SHEEHY) (Galway, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he saw a statement about a fortnight ago in The Standard and other Conservative papers, which purported to give details of a revolting act of desecration of a grave at Woodford, reciting how a man named Whaley was Boycotted up to the hour of his death; how after death the funeral was only attended by the widow and her children; and how, a few nights after the burial—
The coffin was dug up and placed standing on its head, leaning against the wall of the graveyard;and, whether he has caused any inquiry to be made into the truth or falsehood of this story; and, if so, can he state whether there is any truth in it?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I find that the man referred to had, for taking the herding of a farm, been subject to 1391 annoyance; and that at the Summer Assizes last year six persons were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for assaulting and intimidating him, and from that time up to the date of his death he was under police protection. The funeral was only attended by the widow and son of the deceased, together with the police who had been protecting him. It took place at a very early hour of the morning, and was kept as private as possible, at the expressed wish of the deceased. The man's grave does not appear to have been interfered with.