HC Deb 20 February 1890 vol 341 cc738-9
MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland is it the fact that Mr. John Kelly, having been arrested in Tipperary on a charge of conspiracy to compel and induce the tenants of Mr. Smith-Barry not to pay rent, applied for particulars of the acts alleged against him to the Crown Solicitor, but received a reply from Mr. George Bolton, ignoring altogether this request, and merely supplying a copy of the charge; whether it is the constant practice of the Crown to supply such particulars, as being the right of the accused; and whether he has sanctioned the refusal of Mr. Kelly's request for particulars by the Crown Solicitor?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN, University of Dublin)

I have inquired into the facts of this case, and am informed that in reply to a letter of Mr. Kelly on the 13th, Mr. Bolton furnished next day a full detail of the charge against the accused, with as much particularity as was usual in such cases. There does not appear to have been any refusal to supply any information to which the accused was entitled, or any departure from the usual practice of the Crown in such cases.

MR. M. HEALY (Cork)

Is it the fact that an application for particulars of the overt acts relied upon in support of the charge of conspiracy was refused?

MR. MADDEN

The facts are these: The accused person was arrested on a 'warrant. He asked for particulars, and Mr. Bolton wrote a letter giving them.

MR. M. HEALY

Did he ask for particulars of the overt acts?

MR. MADDEN

He asked for particulars, and received a letter containing' particulars of the charge. It is not usual to furnish particulars of the evidence by which the charge is to be sustained. Had he asked for a copy of the information I have no doubt it would have been furnished.

MR. M. HEALY

Does the right hon. Gentleman approve of the refusal of the Crown Solicitor to give particulars of the overt acts charged?

MR. MADDEN

It is not usual to go beyond what Mr. Bolton did, which was to furnish full particulars of the charge.