HC Deb 01 August 1889 vol 339 cc74-5
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the grounds upon which a Secret Inquiry Court has been instituted at Gorey; and, whether the County of Wexford is quite free from anything like serious crime?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

An inquiry under Section 1 of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act was ordered at Gorey upon sworn informations that a conspiracy to boycott and intimidate existed in that district. This class of crime has, it appears, recently existed to a very great extent in different districts in the County of "Wexford.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is true that the three men, Millan, Doyle, and Kavanagh, charged at Gorey with endeavouring to prevent people buying pigs from the Earl of Courtown, were confined in a small and dirty police cell for a considerable time, as bail was refused till next day; and, whether the Government intend to prosecute these men on any other charge than that connected with Lord Courtown's pigs?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I understand that it was not practicable to send these men to the county gaol, and they were detained in the police lock-up. Bail was not refused, nor was it offered. The men were released on bail on the following day.

MR. W. REDMOND

Is it calculated to promote law and order in Ireland that respectable men should be prosecuted simply because they refuse to buy Lord Courtown's jugs?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!