HC Deb 03 May 1888 vol 325 cc1247-8
SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)

I wish to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is now able to lay before the House the record of the convictions of Mr. Blanc, M.P., which he said he would inquire into?

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

I believe I can give a fairly full account to the House. It appears that the Resident Magistrates did not condemn Mr. Blanc to hard labour. It appears there was a distinction drawn in the record of the sentences by which it was put down with regard to Father M'Fadden that he was not condemned to hard labour; and it is that circumstance, and that difference in the statement of the two sentences—which appeared to be identical in their character—which, I presume, led to the fact that it was reported in the first instance as being a sentence of hard labour; and throughout the recent trial of the appeal it was treated by counsel for the prosecution, and by the prisoner and those who advised him, as being a sentence of hard labour. The mistake is rather a remarkable one.

MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

Does the right hon. Gentleman now admit that there was an increase of sentence?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Of course, I admit there was an increase of sentence. I have now given the House the information which reached me for the first time to-day, and, of course, I now admit that, with regard to Mr. Blane, there was an increase of sentence, but not with regard to Father M'Fadden.

MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

As the increase of sentence on Mr. Blane was accompanied, in the mind of the magistrates, by a decrease of its severity, and as it appears not to have taken place, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to rectify it?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

As I understand the matter, the County Court Judge gave the sentence, on the re-hearing of the case, which he thought befitting the offence that had been committed; and if that was the view it was perfectly irrelevant whether an error was committed as to the sentence or not.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

Will the right hon. Gentleman now withdraw the word "modification" of the sentence which he used the other night?

[No reply.]