§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that on Monday, June 4, five men residing at Falcarragh, Donegal, were brought up from prison before Mr. Hamilton, R.M., at Letterkenny, and were committed a third time to imprisonment for refusing to give evidence; and, if so, do the Government intend in any way to deal with these repeated imprisonments for what was practically the same offence?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I believe the facts are as stated in the first 1710 part of the Question. I should have no title to interfere in the matter, even supposing I desired to do so. Nor should I describe the action of the magistrate as that of giving repeated sentences of imprisonment for the same offence. It would, I think, be more accurate to say that on a repetition of the fault there was a repetition of the punishment.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI beg to give Notice that I shall take an early opportunity of raising this question in the House.