HC Deb 15 March 1888 vol 323 cc1269-71
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can state the amount voted by the Queen's County Grand Jury for malicious injuries at the Assizes last week; has his attention been drawn to the following account of what took place between the Assize Judge (Mr. Justice Johnson) and the Grand Jury as to 16 alleged "malicious injuries" which the police declared were not "outrages" at all—namely— Colonel Garden, as Chairman of the Committee before whom the applications for malicious injuries came, said he wished to draw his Lordship's attention to the unusually large number of applications for compensation for malicious injuries, arising out of intimidation and Boycotting, which came before the Grand Jury. His Lordship said he was informed by the respected County Inspector that the county was not only free from crime of a serious nature, but that it was in its usual state of perfect peace and orderliness, with the exception of one part of the county, where some differences existed between the landlord proprietor and his tenants. During his experience it had been often found that 'malicious' injuries were not malicious at all. The county was now in the same orderly and peaceful state in which he found it on his last visit. The Foreman said the 16 cases of malicious injuries did not appear in the Constabulary Report, though they must have been brought under the notice of the police. The County Inspector said he could only include those cases which were regarded as outrages at the Constabulary head-quarters; can any explanation be afforded and of the disagreement as to what constitutes an "outrage" which exists between the Grand Jurors and the Police; how much of the compensation voted by the Grand Jury for "malicious injuries" covers cases which were not regarded as "outrages" at Constabulary head-quarters; and, could a Return be granted giving particulars of the 16 cases in question?

MR. LALOR (Queen's Co., Leix)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been directed to the following report, which appeared in The Freeman's Journal of the 9th instant, of a conversation which took place the day previously in Maryborough, between the Grand Jurors of Queen's County and Mr. Justice Johnson, Judge of Assize:— Colonel Carden, as Chairman of Committee for malicious injuries, said he wished to draw his Lordship's attention to the unusually large number of applications for compensation for malicious injuries arising out of intimidation and Boycotting which cams before the Grand Jury. His Lordship said he was informed by the respected County Inspector that the county was not only free from crime of a serious character, but that it was in its usual state of perfect peace and orderliness, with the exception of one part of the county, where some differences existed between the landlord proprietor and his tenants. During his experience it had been often found that ' malicious ' injuries wore not malicious at all. The county was now in the same orderly and peaceful state in which he found it on his last visit. The Foreman said the 16 cases of malicious injuries did not appear on the Constabulary Report, though they must have been brought under the notice of the police. The County Inspector said he could only include those cases which were regarded as outrages at the Constabulary head-quarters; and, whether, considering that the present state of things had been so described by Mr. Justice Johnson as existing in Queen's County for the last 18 months, and that there are 25 branches of the National League in the county, he will advise the Lord Lieutenant to withdraw his Proclamation describing the National League in Queen's County as a "dangerous Association," and "formed for the commission of crime?"

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

(who replied) said: The amount voted by the Queen's County Grand Jury at the recent Spring Assizes for malicious injuries was £256 5s. I have seen a newspaper report of the conversation alluded to as having taken place between the Assize Judge (Mr. Justice Johnson) and the Grand Jury as to 10 alleged "malicious injuries," which the police declared were not "outrages" at all. The County Inspector states he is not aware of any disagreement existing between the Grand Jurors and the police as to what constitutes an "outrage;" the point in question being merely a misapprehension on the part of Colonel Carden in supposing that all the cases should appear in the one, the fact being that they appeared in different periods. Of the 16 cases in question, eight had appeared on the Outrage Returns for both the Spring and Summer Assizes of 1887; and of the eight others five appeared on the similar Return for the recent Spring Assizes. The remaining three did not appear in the Return, as they were not recorded as outrages. In these three cases the Grand Jury awarded no compensation. I apprehend the hon. and learned Member can obtain a detailed Return of all these cases from the lists laid before Presentment Sessions. Summarized, the cases are as follow:—One case of cock of hay and outhouse burned; six cases of cocks of hay burned; two cases of cow-houses and cattle burned; four cases of dwelling-houses burned; two cases of injury to animals; and one case of stack of barley burned. The County Inspector reports that since the passing of the recent Statute Boycotting and intimidation, have greatly decreased in the county; and the Irish Government can hardly undertake to interfere with the operation of a measure which has been so efficacious in restoring freedom of action by adopting the course suggested.