§ MR. D. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, what action the Government have decided to take in connection with the charge brought against Dr. Lavan, J.P., of having shot and seriously wounded a woman named Mrs. Barratt, at Bangor Erris, county Mayo, on Thursday, 7th May; whether any official notice has been taken of the fact that on this occasion of the wounding of Mrs. Barratt by a shot fired from the public street, immediately outside the police barrack door, Police Sergeant Lewis formed one the firing party; and, whether any steps have been taken to bring his conduct, as well as that of any other policeman who may have been present with him when Mrs. Barratt was shot, under the notice of the proper constabulary authorities?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe police were instructed to institute proceedings against Dr. Lavan on the charge of wounding Mrs. Barratt on the occasion referred to, and at Petty Sessions, held at Belmullet on Saturday last, the magistrates unanimously refused informations in the case. Upon the information before me, when the prosecution was ordered, it did not appear that the police were to blame in the matter. I have called for a full report of the facts adduced in evidence.