HC Deb 19 May 1890 vol 344 cc1253-4
MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware, and, if not, whether he will inquire if it is a fact that, although on the 7th November, 1889, it was officially reported to Mr. Richard Owen Armstrong, J.P., a member of the Board of Swift's Hospital (Lunatic Asylum), Dublin, that the funds of the institution had been to a large amount misappropriated by the Secretary, Mr. Newland, and that although Mr. Newland himself reported to Sir Ralph Cusack, J.P., D.L., another member of the Board of Swift's, that he had been guilty of extensive defalcations in the funds of the hospital, the members of the Board of Swift's, at a special meeting held on the 12th November, agreed to allow Mr. Newland to make restitution to the extant of £1,000 of the funds he had fradulently misappropriated; whether such action of the Board was legal; whether he is aware that, in consequence of this action of the Board, Mr. Newland, on the loth of November, 1889, lodged in the Bank of Ireland a sum of £1,000 to the credit of the Board of Swift's Hospital; but, being subsequently declared a bankrupt, the Board of Swift's Hospital were obliged to refund the said payment of £1,000; whether the total loss to the funds of Swift's Hospital caused by Mr. New-land's frauds has yet been ascertained; and, if so, what is the total amount of the said loss; can be explain how it happened that it was not until the 7th February, 1890, three months after the discovery of Mr. Newland's frauds, that the members of the Board of Swift's caused informations to be sworn against Mr. Newland, who meantime had absconded, and placed himself outside the jurisdiction of Her Majesty's Courts of Justice; and whether the Government proposes to take any action, and, if so, what action in the matter?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my previous statements in regard to this question.

MR. CLANCY

But docs not the Coercion Act give the right hon. Gentleman all the control he could require where criminal proceedings have been taking place?

Mr. A.J. BALFOUR

I have no reason for believing that there has been any crime in the matter.

Mr. CLANCY

Is it not a crime for parsons in the Commission of the Peace in Dublin to condone the embezzlement of the funds of a charitable institution in Dublin; and is it the fact that these malpractices have been passed over because they were committed by supporters of Her Majesty's Government?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

If crime has been committed it can be investigated by a proper tribunal.

MR. CLANCY

Is it not the habitual practice of the police in Ireland to swear information upon which the Government take action?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

In this case I am advised there is no evidence of a crime having been committed, and under those circumstances there is no necessity for the police investigation.

MR. CLANCY

I beg to give notice that on the first opportunity I will call attention to the matter, and endeavour to show that there is some connection between the Government and the delinquonts.