HC Deb 30 June 1890 vol 346 cc311-2
MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that, in the case of Mr. John Lyons, a merchant of Portumna, and three other men, who are at present undergoing a sentence of two months' imprisonment with hard labour, on the charge of intimidating James Mitchel, Mitchel, when produced as a witness by the Crown, swore that he did not know any of the defendants, that they had never intimidated him, or attempted to do so, and that they had never, in any way, attempted to induce him not to buy Dillon's hay; and if he will consider the advisability of releasing them from prison?

*MR. MADDEN

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer already given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary. The case did not depend on the evidence of any single witness, and it was fully re-heard on appeal when the conviction was affirmed by the County Court Judge. It is, of course, open to the prisoners or any person on their behalf to petition the Lord Lieutenant for their release, but the Chief Secretary sees no reason to suggest such a course.

MR. ROCHE

As the question is practically unanswered I beg to give notice that I will repeat it.