HC Deb 04 June 1891 vol 353 cc1621-2
MR. GILHOOLY

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is a fact that a man named Maurice Healy has been arrested and charged with the murder of a gamekeeper named Daniel Harrington at Glengarriff; whether Healy has been remanded 16 times; whether he has been kept in prison from the 14th February to the 22nd May; and whether evidence in support of this grave charge has been given against Healy; and, if not, whether he will be compensated for the wrong inflicted on him?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I am informed that the Magistrates acted in the ordinary way. I am not aware that there is any necessity for compensation in the matter.

MR. SEXTON

It appears that this man has been remanded 16 times successively. I ask the right hon. Gentleman to lay on the Table of the House a copy of the evidence on which the Magistrates felt justified in ordering 16 successive remands. I have not known of such a case in the whole of my experience.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I believe the Magistrates acted on the evidence adduced before them.

MR SEXTON

Upon what legal principle does a Magisterial tribunal act in remanding a man for 16 times?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Magistrates act on the probability of being able to obtain evidence.

MR. SEXTON

May I ask the Home Secretary if he has ever known a similar case?

MR. MATTHEWS

Yes, Sir. Remands of this kind are a matter of daily occurrence. There is a case in Wales which is exciting great interest, in which the prisoner has been remanded over and over again.

MR. SEXTON

I shall feel it my duty to call attention to this case on the Vote for Law and Courts of Justice in Ireland.

MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)

As a matter of fact, was not one of the Magistrates a paid agent of the Government—a Resident Magistrate?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I have not the least idea.

MR. MAC NEILL

Then I can say that it was so.