HC Deb 24 May 1894 vol 24 cc1167-8
MR. ROSS

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a speech made by the hon. Member for East Mayo on Sunday last, at Bally-brood, near Limerick, in which he recommended that the occupant of an evicted farm in the neighbourhood should be boycotted; whether it was with the knowledge and consent of the police that the meeting was held about a mile distant from the farm referred to; and whether the Crown authorities propose to prosecute any of the persons who took part in this meeting?

MR. J. MORLEY

I have seen a report of the speech referred to. The meeting was held at Ballybrood with the knowledge of the police, and the Government were advised that there were no reasons for interfering with its being held at this place. The speech contains nothing that would furnish sufficient ground for a prosecution, nor was it directed specially against any particular individual.

MR. ROSS

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman has he read the report of the speech in The Freeman' s Journal in which the hon. Member for East Mayo is reported to have advised the people not to deal with, buy for or sell to persons on boycotted forms? And I have also to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has asked his Law Advisers if that is not an offence sufficient to warrant a prosecution? ["Order, order !"]

MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal)

No law here.

MR. ROSS

I beg also to ask the Chief Secretary if any instructions have been given to the police not to permit meetings of this character to be held at a nearer distance than a mile from the boycotted holding?

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, might I ask him if he has seen a letter from the Secretary of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, advising persons not to deal with the house of Causton and Company because of a vote given in this House?

MR. J. MORLEY

No, Sir, I have not seen that letter, but I will refer to it. In answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, I have to say this meeting was not held within a mile of the holding referred to. The promoters were informed that no meeting would be allowed to be held within a mile of the evicted farm, and the meeting was not held within a mile of it. I read the report furnished to me, and it was taken from The Freeman's Journal, or some other paper. At all events, the words that were used were, as I understand, used in a general sense, and would not subject the hon. Member to a prosecution. The hon. and learned Gentleman did not notice that the Member for East Mayo added that "They were to leave them severely alone, and at the same time to abstain from all illegal means and from violence." In the opinion of the Government there were no grounds for a prosecution.

MR. ROSS

Might I ask if he considers that if a person incites to crime— ["Order, order!"]—and at the same time—

* MR. SPEAKER

That is a mere matter of opinion.

MR. ROSS

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if a person incites to crime— ["Order, order !"and interruption] — and at the same time states that it is to be committed—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!