DR. KENNYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the Irish Government have recently liberated Walker, who during the excitement of the Belfast riots in 1886 killed a soldier and a policeman who were discharging their duties, and who, though sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude, served but seven years of his sentence, he will now consider the expediency of liberating John Daly and other political prisoners who wore convicted in 18S3, during a period of great political excitement, of treason-felony, and who have served over 10 years of their sentences?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am not acquainted with the details of the case of Walker, but I am informed by my right hon Friend the Chief Secretary that lie was liberated after consultation with the learned Judge who tried him, and who approved of his being discharged. Every case must, of course, be judged upon its own merits. For reasons which I stated at length earlier in the Session, I am of opinion that, apart from special circum- 1107 stances, such, for instance, as the health of the convict, which may affect the decision of particular cases, the time has not come at which I could properly interfere with the sentences passed upon any of the prisoners referred to in the latter part of the question.
DR. KENNYIn reference to that answer, might I ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is on the plea of health that the Irish Government liberated Walker; and was not Walker's offence committed in a time of great political excitement, and was not Daly's offence also committed under circumstances of great political excitement?
MR. J. MORLEYIt is quite true that Walker's offence was committed during the Belfast riots of 1886, which might be described as a time of political excitement. Walker's health was one of the reasons for his release, but other circumstances were present in my mind.