§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is. aware that at Castleisland Petty Sessions, on 11th October, or about that date, two boys, aged 10 and 12 years, were sentenced to a week's imprisonment with the addition of seven successive floggings —namely, 12 strokes with a birch rod each time, to be inflicted every morning; and if the sentence was given, was it carried out; and, if so, has the attention of the Lord Chancellor been called to the conduct of the Magistrates?
§ MR. BRYCE (for Mr. J. MORLEY)I am informed that the two boys referred to were each 13 years of age; that they were not sentenced to a week's imprisonment, but were fined 10s. each, which was paid, and ordered to receive 12 strokes of a birch rod; and that they were not sentenced to any whipping but the one which was duly carried out. It appears that the lads assaulted a woman who was lame and 60 years of age, by striking her with a shovel-handle, and that they tried to force a piece of iron into her mouth; they also stole from her a small sum of money. The case was brought up under the Summary Jurisdiction over Children Act of 1885, and the Chief Secretary is inclined to the opinion that the boys were very properly dealt with, and well deserved the birching they received.
§ MR. PICTONThe point of my question is satisfactorily answered if I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say there was only one whipping, and not repeated whippings?