MR. MAC NEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the fact that Father M'Fadden and the other persons against whom various charges in reference to District Inspector Martin's death on the 3rd February have been brought by the Government, will not be tried till the 16th October; whether they will be tried at Maryborough, where, at the last Assizes, the Crown prosecutors were accused of packing juries to secure convictions; and, whether, having regard to the fact that these trials will take place at a time when Parliament will not be sitting, he will be prepared to give the House an assurance that the juries will not be exclusively composed of persons differing in religious belief and political sympathies from the accused?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI understand that it is the case that with the consent of the counsel for the accused, the trial of the persons referred to has been postponed till the 17th of October. As I have already stated, no juror has been, or will be, ordered to stand by on the ground of religious belief.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask whether, considering the great length of time that has elapsed since the case was first commenced, and that many of the prisoners are poor, the right hon. Gentleman will consider whether bail cannot be extended to them?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI will make inquiries on the matter, but certainly I cannot give an answer offhand. I should imagine no change can be made, but I will inquire.