HC Deb 28 March 1889 vol 334 cc1005-6
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Wexford Grand Jury had awarded £500 compensation to Head Constable O'Brien, of Taghmon, for injuries done to his eyes at eviction work; whether it was true that the injuries in question were of so slight a character, that after 10 days' treatment in hospital Constable O'Brien was reported fit for duty, and whether he was now performing his usual work; whether he was aware that the local doctor in Taghmon considered O'Brien's injuries so slight that he did not advise any hospital or special treatment for two months after the injuries were received; whether it was true, as stated by the counsel for O'Brien, that the compensation of £500 was not so much for O'Brien's injuries as to "deter cases of this description;" whether representations had reached him that under all the circumstances the granting by the Grand Jury of such a large sum of money for so slight an injury has caused very widespread indignation in Wexford County; whether it was a fact that at the eviction where Head Constable O'Brien was injured, Mr. Considine, the resident magistrate in charge of the police, declared that the people who were about to be evicted had offered "fair terms" to the landlord; whether he was aware that the people of the district had resolved not to pay the £500 to O'Brien, as a protest against the employment of armed police in evicting people who, according to Mr. Considine, R.M., had offered "fair terms;" whether there was any medical evidence that the policeman in question has been permanently injured; and, whether the Government would take steps to prevent such cases of large compensation for slight injuries?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Grand Jury have granted compensation to the Head Constable for the injury to his eyes. I am informed that the local doctor did not at first consider the case serious; but it was afterwards found necessary to send the Head Constable to the Ophthalmic Hospital in Dublin, where he was detained for 10 or 12 days, and it was some weeks later before he could resume his full duty. I understand that, in the opinion of the local doctor, the Head Constable's sight will never be as strong as it was before the injury. The Government have no power to interfere in the manner suggested. With regard to the observation of Mr. Considine it is to be borne in mind that it referred only to the offer made on behalf of the tenants when the sheriff and evicting party were actually on the ground.

MR. W. REDMOND

Would not these injuries have been avoided if O'Brien had followed the advice of his superior officer, Mr. Considine, R.M.?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am not in a position to say. Mr. Considine was not in charge of the police.

MR. W. REDMOND

On what ground does the right hon. Gentleman say that Mr. Considine was not in charge of the police?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I may be wrong, but I presume that he was not, because it is not the usual practice.

MR. W. REDMOND

In consequence of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I will take the earliest opportunity of calling attention to the exorbitant nature of this compensation which has been awarded for injuries, which would not have been sustained if the advice of the Resident Magistrate had been taken.