HC Deb 01 December 1893 vol 19 cc260-1
MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the recent breaking-in of tombs and desecration of human remains in St. Finan's Church-yard, on Church Island, Loughcurrane Lake, County Kerry, and to a charge against Edward West, a member of the Constabulary force, of having wilfully and maliciously broken the chalice stone of St. Finan, an ancient and greatly venerated monument; whether that on the hearing of the charge at Waterville, on the 3rd instant, six witnesses identified the defendant as the person who had broken the chalice stone, and that a bare majority of the Bench of five Magistrates dismissed the case without prejudice; and whether the Government, with a view to the protection of national monuments, contemplate any further action?

MR. ASQUITH (for Mr. J. MORLEY)

The District Inspector of Constabulary reports that he brought up this case at Waterville Petty Sessions on November 3 and 4, before a Bench consisting of five Magistrates. Fifteen witnesses were summoned, of whom seven swore that the chalice stone was broken by Con- stable Edward West and an equal number of witnesses for the defence swore that the constable did not break the stone. The Magistrates, by a majority, dismissed the case without prejudice, but it did not transpire that it was dismissed by a majority of one only. I am informed that the constable was not charged with the breaking of the vault, and that several witnesses for the prosecution in the course of their evidence proved that the constable could not have injured the vault on the occasion without their knowledge.

MR. SEXTON

Seeing that two out of five Magistrates were for a conviction, and that the case was dismissed without prejudice, do not the Government consider that the interests of justice require further investigation?

MR. ASQUITH

I must really appeal to the hon. Gentleman and to other hon. Members not to put supplementary questions to me on matters as to which I have no personal knowledge, but to reserve them until the Chief Secretary is here, and that I hope will be on Monday.