§ MR. SMITH-BARRY (Hunts, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that, on 30th June last, Patrick Hewitt, law messenger, endeavoured to serve a writ, issued under the seal of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Ireland, upon one James Hurley, at Cloongarra, near Kilmallock, County Limerick; that Hurley read the writ, fastened the door, took a spade and struck Hewitt on the side of the head with it, forced him to tear the writ into small pieces, and then chased him for some distance down the road; whether any steps have been taken to bring Hurley to justice; and whether precautions will, in future, be taken to see that officers of the Courts have proper protection while serving such legal documents?
MR. J. MORLEYI am informed that on the 30th of June Hewitt called at the police-barrack at Kilmallock and asked to be directed to Cloongarra, where he was going to serve a writ on Hurley. He said he required no protection from the police. Subsequently he called again at the police-barrack and said he had been assaulted by Hurley. The sergeant of police strongly urged him to go before a Magistrate and make an information, and offered him every assistance; but Hewitt declined to do so, and said he did not want to have anything to do with the matter. Officers of the Law Courts always receive protection whenever they ask for it. I have learnt since I came into the House that Hewitt's information has now been taken, and a warrant issued for Hurley's arrest.