HC Deb 07 May 1888 vol 325 cc1480-1
MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following paragraph in The Cork Herald of the 3rd instant, commenting on the sentence of four months' imprisonment passed on Wednesday last at Macroom on a man named Creedon, for a murderous assault committed upon Police Sergeant O'Shea:— The young man Creedon, who very properly broke a policeman's head to save his own on the occasion of the late suppressed meeting, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment by two removables yesterday. Irwin, in giving the decision, practically admitted the whole case against the Crown; but because (so we gather from his speech) Creedon hit the policeman too hard he sent him to gaol. We are glad Creedon hit the ruffian hard. We hardly think, too, that the outrageous doctrine that a policeman should not be well beaten (or killed if necessary for the preservation of life) when he is breaking the law, will be upheld on appeal: and, whether he will institute proceedings against the editor of this paper, on the ground that the paragraph in question is an incitement to violent assaults on the police?

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

My attention has been called to the paragraph in question; and that paragraph, with the other papers, are now before the Attorney General of Ireland for his direction.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

asked, whether the Resident Magistrate who tried the case did not say that he was not there to justify the magistrates, but that he was there to suppress the meeting; and if he did not go on to say that even supposing the meeting was legal the defendant had no right to resist; also, if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that no attempt was made by the prosecuting counsel to make out that the meeting was illegal?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am afraid I cannot answer that Question without Notice.