HC Deb 29 November 1888 vol 331 cc498-500
MR. LANE (Cork Co., E.)

asked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, Whether it is the duty of every police officer to take every step in his power to discover the guilty party when a case of murder or homicide occurs in his district; whether it is the duty of the representatives of the Crown at a Coroner's inquest to produce any available evidence as to the cause of the death of the deceased; and, whether there are any exceptions to the General Rules for the guidance of such officers that would justify their refusing to perform such duties; and, if so, what are the exceptions?

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

, in reply, said, the answer to the first and second paragraphs of the Question was in the affirmative, and to the third in the negative.

MR. LANE

May I ask whether, considering the reply to the first two paragraphs of my Question, he will order an investigation into the conduct of Inspector Creagh, of Midleton, and of Inspector Seymour, who have both declined to perform their duties at the inquest recently held into the murder of Patrick Ahern; and whether he will order these two officers, who have neglected to perform their duties, to be suspended until after the investigation?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, no evidence had come before them that these officers had neglected their duty.

MR. LANE

asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman had seen the Cork papers containing full reports of this inquest, and copies of which he (Mr. Lane) now held in his hand, that these officers stated positively that they declined to perform these duties? If the right hon. Gentleman did not believe what he (Mr. Lane) said, perhaps he would believe what he read in the papers.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I believe what the hon. Gentleman says; but what I do not believe is what the Cork papers say.

MR. LANE

Does the right hon. Gentleman not believe the shorthand Report of the inquest which appeared from day to day for 13 days, and which could have been contradicted by the police officers themselves if untrue?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he understood the evidence was not in accordance with what, as he gathered from the hon. Gentleman, appeared in the Cork papers. The papers did not always report accurately.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

The evidence in this case was taken by deposition. Has the right hon. Gentleman had the deposition before him; and will he endeavour to obtain the depositions of these Inspectors, in order to see whether or not they have declined to do their duty in the manner stated by my hon. Friend (Mr. Lane)?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he must ask for Notice of any further Questions. He did not think, from the information which had been laid before him, that even a primâ facie case had been made out.

MR. LANE

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table of the House a copy of the Report made by the Government reporter who was present at the inquest? If he does not believe the report in the Cork papers, surely he will believe his own reporter.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I was not aware that there was a Government reporter present.