HC Deb 12 August 1890 vol 348 cc706-7
MR. JOHN O'CONNOR

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Walsh, the proprietor and editor of the Cashel Sentinel, was last week sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour, for having printed in the news columns of his paper a speech delivered by Mr. John Kelly, and for which Mr. Kelly had been prieviously sent to prison for four months, and that Mr. Powell, editor of the Midland Tribune, was on Friday last sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour for publishing as news the proceedings of a meeting of the National League; and whether it is intended to enforce these sentences?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I understand that it is the case that Mr. Walsh was convicted as stated in the question. He appears, however, to have taken steps to appeal. Mr. Powell has not been sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. He was charged with publishing in his papers notices calculated to promote boycotting and intimidation in connection with the taking of evicted farms, and was ordered by the Bench of Magistrates to find bail, but elected to go to prison in default. The law, of course, will be enforced.

MR. J. O'CONNOR

Was there any editorial comment beyond what appeared in the news columns?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot answer that question without notice. My impression is that there was no editorial comment.

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

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to confer with the Attorney General as to the desirability of using the Coercion Act in these cases, so that where a man gets a month's imprisonment he will have the right of appeal. By using the abominable Act under which these editors are imprisoned, there is no right of appeal whatever. The right hon. Gentleman promised the right of appeal in every case. Why does he not avail of the Coercion Act, which he declares to be necessary to put down intimidation—his own brand new Statute, which gives some right of appeal?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I could not promise the right of appeal under other Statutes than that of the Crimes Act of 1887, and I never suggested that offences of this kind could only be dealt with by a particular Statute. It is quite clear that we must use such means as the law affords to put down all kinds of crime.

MR. J. O'CONNOR

I wish to know whether, in the case of Mr. Walsh, he simply re-produced language which was a quotation by the Speaker, of observations that had been used in this country?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I do not understand that to be so.