§ MR. WILLIAM KENNY (Dublin, St. Stephen's Green)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the charges of riotous assembly and assault at Dromore West, County Sligo, on the 18th March last, on the occasion of the election of a Poor Law Guardian, have been as yet disposed of; how many persons have been made amenable; have they been summarily convicted or returned for trial at the Assizes; and, if so, on what charge; and, if returned for trial, is it proposed to try them in the County of Sligo where the offence was committed?
MR. J. MORLEYThe case referred to was heard at Easkey Potty Sessions on the 17th and 18th May, when the 197 Rev. Mr. Kelly and 19 other defendants were returned for trial to the Sligo Summer Assizes on a charge of riot, unlawful assembly, and obstructing the police in the discharge of their duty. Three of the 20 defendants have also been sent for trial on a charge of assaulting a voter, from whom the voting paper was taken by force on the occasion mentioned, and seven others of the defendants, including the Rev. Mr. Kelly, are charged with aiding and abetting in the assault. All the defendants have been admitted to bail. Two other defendants who had been summoned did not appear at Petty Sessions, and it is believed they have left the country. There is nothing in the past experience to lead us to believe that Sligo jurors are not impartial.