HC Deb 04 June 1894 vol 25 cc307-9
MR. W. KENNY (Dublin, St. Stephen's Green)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that within the last week cattle belonging to a Mr. Wray at Woodville, County Kildare, were severely stabbed; if he has any evidence to show what was the motive for the outrage; and whether any arrests have been made in connection with it?

MR. J. MORLEY

It is a fact that on the night of the 21st instant a mare and a heifer, the property of the person named, were maliciously injured. Proceedings are now pending against one man in connection with the outrage, and under these circumstances I must decline to disclose the opinion of the police as to the motive for its commission.

MR. SEXTON

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the Ennistymon (County Clare) Baronial Sessions, on the 11th ultimo, the following claims for compensation for alleged malicious injuries were made by persons in occupation of farms from which Mr. Blake Forster had been recently evicted: Richard Reynolds, Ballykeale, Kilfenora, burning of a rick of hay, £20; Richard Reynolds, mutilation of cattle, £20; Mr. Murray, Ballykeale House, damage to aqueduct, £20; whether he is aware that these claims were preferred on affidavits of the claimants; whether the claims of Reynolds were disallowed and the claim of Murray was withdrawn; under what circumstances the disallowance and withdrawal occurred; and whether the attention of the Attorney General has been directed to these cases?

MR. J. MORLEY

The facts are substantially as stated in the first three paragraphs of the question. The claim of Reynolds for the hay was rejected because it was sworn that one of his-sons stands committed for trial at the next Assizes charged with setting fire to-the hay, and there was a suspicion that another of his sons mutilated the cattle for which he also claims compensation. The claim of Murray was withdrawn, because no damage was done to the aqueduct since the claim had been lodged. I have referred all the papers in the matter to the Attorney General for consideration?

MR. W. REDMOND (Clare, E.)

Is the Chief Secretary aware that there is a strong feeling in this part of County Clare that many of the alleged malicious injuries are in realty of a bogus character, and are got up largely by the persons who claim compensation? Will the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to prevent men of the character of Reynolds from being placed in the occupation of evicted farms?

MR. J. MORLEY

I have heard stories about the bogus character of many of the alleged malicious injuries, but I have not the slightest information as to what value is to be attached to them. I have no power whatever to prevent particular persons from taking charge of evicted farms.

MR. DANE

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that last week a valuable cow, the property of Surgeon O'Grady, at Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, was mutilated in so shocking a manner that it died from the houghing it received; can he say what is alleged to have been the cause of such outrage; and has any person been made amenable?

MR. J. MORLEY

I have received a Police Report of the outrage referred to in the first paragraph of the question. No person has yet been made amenable for the outrage, the motive assigned for the commission of which being that the animal was believed to be the property, not of Surgeon O'Grady, but of another person in the locality, who had cattle grazing on evicted lauds.