HC Deb 09 May 1892 vol 4 cc347-8
MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.)

I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the report of a case in which Mrs. Perry, the widow of a land agent who was recently shot when driving to Mass at Tulla, County Clare, was awarded by the Grand Jury £20 as compensation for a horse which was shot at the time of the outrage, but in which the claim for £1,000 for his injuries served by Mr. Perry, before he died a lingering death from his wounds, was disallowed on the ground that the Presentment Sessions had no power to award compensation to the representative of a murdered person; and whether the decision that there is now no power to award such compensation was correct; and, if so, whether he will consider if he will introduce a measure to give power to award compensation in such cases?

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

In the event of the Government deciding to introduce a Bill for the purpose of awarding any such compensation, I hope it will include the families of men shot down at Mitchelstown, Youghal, and Tipperary under orders from the Irish Government.

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

My attention has been called to the report of the case in question. There is under the existing law no power to award compensation in such cases. The Government do not propose to introduce legislation dealing with the question.

MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it was the widow of Captain Plunket got compensation—an annual allowance?

MR. MADDEN

I do not think that has anything to do with this question.