§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Government will take any steps to facilitate the release of Thomas Moroney, now imprisoned for contempt of court, having in view the fact that Thomas Moroney has now been imprisoned for more than one year and ten months, and that the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in England has on more than one occasion strongly pronounced against indefinite imprisonment for contempt?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The hon. Gentleman will probably agree with me that it would be in the highest degree inexpedient, even if it were possible, for the Executive to interfere with the action of a Court of Law. I cannot admit the propriety of the epithet "indefinite" in the last line. Moroney can bring his imprisonment to a termination whenever he pleases.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHIn consequence of that answer I beg to give Notice that I shall, at the conclusions of the Questions, ask leave to move the adjournment of the House.