§ MR. O'KELLYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether he is aware that Andrew Beirne, of Creene Elphin, was recently arrested in connection with a charge brought against him by a man named Shaw for carrying a gun, although he possessed the necessary excise licence; and that, when the case was heard at Hillstreet Petty Sessions, the charge was dismissed; by what authority was the arrest made; and will he state whether the gun has been returned to Mr. Beirne; and, if not, what is the ground on which it is withheld from him?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt is the fact that Andrew Beirne was recently arrested on a charge of firing at Mr. Shaw, and that on the hearing of the charge the Magistrates refused informations, there being no evidence to show that the shot was fired at Mr. Shaw. Beirne was not duly licensed to carry a gun in the townland where the shot is alleged to have been fired, though he had a licence to carry it on an adjoining townland. The weapon, however, has since been restored to him.