HC Deb 09 June 1893 vol 13 cc651-2
MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of "Burns v. The Belfast Evening Telegraph," tried before Mr. Justice Gibson and a special jury, in Dublin, on the 2nd and 4th instants, and reported in The Belfast News Letter of the 3rd and 5th; whether he is aware that at this trial it was proved that on the occasion of the West Belfast election, in July last, a person named Kearney, who was then acting as Secretary of the Belfast Branch of the National Federation, marked on the list of voters the names of dead, absent, and sick men, and handed the list to three men named M'Ginley, Carberry, and O'Neill, with instructions to have them personated; whether a large number of personators were arrested on the polling day; and if he can say how many pleaded guilty when brought to trial; whether it has been brought to his notice that Mr. Justice Gibson, in his Charge to the jury, declared that there had, if the jury believed the evidence, been arrangements for wholesale personation under the direction of the National Federation through their secretary; whether it is true that Kearney has, since the election, been appointed to any public office; and if hecan say by whom he was recommended to the Government for the appointment; and if the Government intend to take any action in regard to the parties involved in the evidence given at the trial in question?

MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

This question appears on the Notice Paper for the first time to-day. I desire to ask whether, as the question conveys a charge of criminality against a person who is described as a public officer, if the hon. Member has given notice of his intention to put it to Mr. Kearney?

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

I know nothing of Mr. Kearney further than what I have read of him in The Belfast News Letter.

MR. SEXTON

Is the Chief Secretary aware that the gentleman in question went to Dublin while the trial was in progress for the purpose of proving his innocence, and hoped to be examined as a witness, but was not called. Will the hon. Gentleman postpone the question to enable Mr. Kearney to give his statement?

MR. J. MORLEY

The question did only appear on the Paper this morning, and it must have been obvious, even to the hon. Member for South Tyrone, that it was impossible for me to answer it without notice. I have called for a Report in reference to this question; but, not having yet received it, I would ask the hon. Member to be good enough to postpone the question for a few days.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

I will ask the question on Thursday next.

MR. MAC NEILL

I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether you did not, a few days ago, express the opinion that questions should not be based on newspaper reports without further investigation being made?

* MR. SPEAKER

The question is put down upon the responsibility of the hon. Member in whose name it stands.