HC Deb 19 June 1888 vol 327 cc589-90
MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has received any information concerning the arrest of six tenants—namely, Denis Fitzpatrick, P. Murphy, John Field, Thomas Frawley, Timothy Daly, and Daniel Daly, at Curass, near Kanturk, a short time after midnight of Wednesday last, on a charge of unlawful assembly and criminal conspiracy, alleged to have been committed on March 23 last; if he can state why these men were summarily arrested and taken from their beds at this time of night, and not proceeded against in the ordinary way by summons; if he is aware that these men were kept in the police barrack all day on Thursday, from 2 or 3 o'clock a.m. to 7.30 p.m., and then released on bail by Mr. Seagrave, R.M.; and, if these facts are correct, whether he will take steps to prevent untried prisoners in Ireland from being exposed to similar treatment in future?

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

The District Inspector of Constabulary reports that the prisoners were arrested at about 2 a.m. The matter referred to is, I understand, one that rests in the discretion of the magistrate before whom the informations are laid. The delay in granting bail was due to the absence of the Resident Magistrate at Buttevant Petty Sessions, from which he was unable to return until about 6 p.m. on the day in question. I have given to the House all the information I have been able to obtain, but I will cause further inquiry to be made.

THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

said, with reference to the reply of the right hon. Gentleman that these men were arrested and taken from their bed at night, he wished to ask him why it was that the Government had waited about three months, and then arrested these men and took them from their beds at night, though they immediately afterwards assented to their release on bail?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have stated just now that I have given all the in- formation I possess to the House; but I am making further inquiries.

MR. FLYNN

asked, was not the town of Kanturk in telegraphic communication with London, and had not the Question been down on Friday afternoon?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, the hon. Gentleman was paying him an overpowering compliment; because, in spite of assurance that he had given all the information he could, the hon. Member still refused to believe his ignorance.

MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)

asked the right hon. Gentleman, whether the Resident Magistrate, though absent in this case, had been conveniently present at midnight in other cases to send men to gaol?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he knew the Resident Magistrate had been at Petty Sessions.

MR. SEXTON

gave Notice that he would repeat the Question on Monday, as he did not believe in the right hon. Gentleman's ignorance.