§ Mr. W. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been directed to the fact that both the landlord and the evicted tenant of the lands of Tearnea, Parish of Ruan, County of Clare, are anxious to avail themselves of the 13th clause of the Land Purchase Act of last Session, but that their application has failed through expiry of time; is he aware that a police protection party has been maintained on the evicted farm at heavy expense to the Government and to the local ratepayers, and that the dispute has been the cause of considerable disturbance and ill-feeling in the district; and whether the Government will offer any opposition to a short Bill extending the 13th clause so as to meet such cases?
§ MR. JACKSONI have caused inquiry to be made into the case of the evicted tenant referred to by the hon. Member, and find the facts are as follows:—On the 27th July, 1885, the tenant, Robert O'Brien, referred to, was evicted from the lands of Tearnea for non-payment of rent. He owed some four years, amounting to £230. The farm after eviction was farmed by the landlord, Mr. P. A. Dwyer. In 1888 his caretaker, Patrick Hallinan, went to live on the farm under police protection, but on the 3rd May the protection was discontinued. Patrick Hallinan left and was without protection till 1st September, 1890, when he was fired at and seriously wounded by John Brodie and Patrick Hartigan, who were convicted on the 22nd December, 1890, and sentenced to twenty years' penal servitude. Robert O'Brien, the evicted tenant, was then arrested on the same charge, and on the 12th March, 1891, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for conspiracy to murder. I cannot think that this is a case in which the House would feel itself called upon to pass special legislation of the nature in question.
§ MR. W. O'BRIENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the landlord agreed, if possible, to take advantage of the clause, but that it is impossible for him to do so, and that, in this case, it has been the cause of very considerable disturbances?
§ MR. JACKSONIt is not in accordance with the information that came to me that it has been the cause of disturbances in the district. I do not see how the landlord and tenant could enter into negotiations, because the tenant is at present in prison. But I believe there have been some communications between the mother of the prisoner and the landlord, with a view to the mother taking the farm.