§ MR. W. KENNY () Dublin, St. Stephen's GreenI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant-of Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large meeting was held at Muckinagh, County Roscommon, on Sunday, the 5th instant, for the purpose of denouncing the conduct of a farmer who had taken au evicted farm on the estate of Major Balfe, at which speeches were made urging the people not to save the grabber's meadow, to keep an eye on the shopkeepers who were in the habit of receiving him, and then he would begin to see that the people would not tolerate such reptiles in the country; whether ho is aware that Mr. James Neary also spoke at the meeting and said they had assembled there to discuss the accursed system of land-grabbing: if this Mr. Neary has been recently created a Justice of the Peace; if any steps were taken by the Police Authorities to prohibit the meeting or make any of the parties at it amenable; and whether Mr. Neary's language will be brought under the notice of the Lord Chancellor?
§ MR. BODKINIs there anything illegal in a meeting held to discuss the system of laud-grabbing in Ireland?
MR. J. MORLEYThat is a question on which I am not prepared to express a general opinion. Cases must be judged on their own merits. A meeting was held near Muckinagh on the date mentioned in the question on the Paper for the purpose of condemning land-grabbing, and speeches to the effect stated were made on the occasion. About 600 persons were present at the meeting. The police had instructions not to allow the meeting to be held within a mile of the farm to which reference is made in the question. The reply to the third and fourth paragraphs is in the affirmative. I shall bring the language of Mr. Neary under the notice of the Lord Chancellor. The other speeches made on the occasion of the meeting are now under the consideration of the Law Officers.