§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to a letter of District Inspector Sharpe, of Piltown, bearing date 22nd February, 1896, which was published in the Dublin Journal of the 7th instant, and from which it appears that a man named John Egan, who died suddenly while in the custody of the police in Mullinavat on the 4th of April, 1875, had in his possession 1s. 3d., which was retained by the police authorities until it was handed to the deceased man's relatives by Inspector Sharpe on the 22nd ultimo; whether he can explain how this property was held by the police for 20 years; and is it usual for the police to hold for like periods large amounts of personal property which may come into their possession under similar circumstances; or what is the police Regulation in such cases?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe sum mentioned was handed over, not to the relatives of the deceased, but to the Board of Guardians, at whose expense he was interred, as it was considered they had the best claim to the sum under the circumstances. Had the Guardians claimed payment of the money, it would no doubt have been handed over to them long ago. The police are not in the habit of retaining such moneys, be they of large or small amount, except 602 in the absence of claimants or of persons who have a legal right to receive them. The sum of 1s. 3d. referred to in this Question has all along been placed to the credit of the public account of the Inspector General.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENWhy was not the interest handed over?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI do not think there was any legal claim.